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9,568 Older Taxi Drivers Make Up 59.2% Fleet

8/21/2026

37 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Transport for London reports 9,568 taxi drivers aged 56+ represent 59.2% of the UK licensed fleet.
Over 5,800 of those drivers are 61 or older, indicating an imminent workforce shift.
Department for Transport data shows 54% of taxis were wheelchair-accessible in 2026, versus 2% of PHVs.
DfT’s 2024 analysis found the average taxi or PHV driver was 48 years old.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, born of a 100,000-person campaign and later extended by the 2005 amendment, forced public transport to become accessible. Transport for London responded by adding 2,000 wheelchair-adapted black cabs, lifting the accessible fleet to about 30% by 2005. In 2026 only 54% of London taxis meet that standard, straining the Act’s original goal.

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Story summary

Transport for London reports 9,568 taxi drivers aged 56+ represent 59.2% of the UK licensed fleet.
Over 5,800 of those drivers are 61 or older, indicating an imminent workforce shift.
Department for Transport data shows 54% of taxis were wheelchair-accessible in 2026, versus 2% of PHVs.
DfT’s 2024 analysis found the average taxi or PHV driver was 48 years old.

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