Britain's newest hackney taxi has been warmly welcomed by disability groups as a major step forward in improving access for disabled people.

The all-new E7 taxi offers a range of features and options designed to assist people with a variety of disabilities.  These range from induction loops for the hard or hearing and high-visibility grab handles and seats for passengers with impaired vision to cab-operated electric side-steps to make it easier to enter and exit the vehicle.

Manufactured jointly by Peugeot and UK-based Cab Direct, the new taxi also offers significantly enhanced wheelchair access. 
In addition to high-quality wheelchair restraints and full lap and diagonal seatbelts the E7 taxi offers a unique, pull-out access ramp which makes it much easier and quicker to access the cab.

Forward Choice
In addition the new E7 has wider entrance doors and increased interior headroom for larger wheelchairs and wheelchair users.  Another exciting new feature is the option for most wheelchair users to choose to be secured safely in either a forward or rearward facing position. 

New E7 is the first hackney taxi in the UK to offer this facility, which stands in contrast to existing cabs where wheelchair users can only face rearwards.  Sadly it is also the case that wheelchair users in traditional London-style taxis are often left to travel sideways, as they were pushed in, with no proper form of restraint. 

User Feedback
Cab Direct Managing Director Paul Nelson explained the background to this latest innovation: "Developing the new-model E7 gave us an ideal opportunity to take on board feedback from a wide range of users, including disabled individuals and disability organisations, with the aim of designing the new vehicle around the needs of disabled people.  One of the strongest elements in this feedback came from wheelchair users who commented that they would prefer to be able to travel facing forwards - if that could be made possible in a safe and secure manner."

Increased flat-floor area proved the key to enabling Allied to achieve this goal, since the cab driver has to be able to get the wheelchair into the taxi, and then rotate it round to face the front, before firmly and independently securing both the wheelchair and wheelchair occupant.  In the end, this still won't be possible for every wheelchair but an estimated 80% of wheelchair users will be able to enjoy this choice in E7 taxis fitted with forward-facing restraints. 

Safety Tests
Paul also underlined the importance of increased passenger safety as part of the vehicle design process. 

"Safety testing has in fact been crucial throughout the development of the new E7 taxi.  The vehicle has already been awarded the highest standard for vehicle manufacture " European Whole Vehicle Type Approval. 

"We also took the decision to invest further in dynamic, in-vehicle testing of both wheelchair and wheelchair occupant restraints, enabling the E7 to attain the highest standards ever achieved in a UK taxi." 

New E7 also offers other important safety features that will benefit disabled passengers as well as other users.  These include robust head restraints on all seats and advanced four-channel ABS braking.  Another first for a large-scale production UK hackney taxi is the on-board electronic stability programme ('ESP' in motor industry jargon).  This manages power and braking to each wheel, individually, in order to reduce skidding, even in wet or icy road conditions.

Popular
Launched in May, New E7 is already proving hugely popular with taxi operators and drivers, as well as disability groups.  It therefore looks a sure bet to become a common sight in our towns and cities over the next few months, which has to be good news for disabled travellers across the UK.  Interest has also been expressed by specialist transport service providers in several other countries, both in Europe and further a-field.

For further information click here, call free on 0800 916 3021 or email info@cabdirect.com