London bicycle rickshaws may be licensed as part of plans to improve road safety

London, May 10 (ANI): Bicycle rickshaws, motorcycle taxis and stretch limousines in London could be licensed as part of the UK government's plans to improve road safety.

The Law Commission for England and Wales, which reviews and recommends reforms of the law, said that clearer rules governing the licensing of taxis and mini-cabs would be brought in.

"Limousines, motorcycle taxis and bicycle rickshaws, often known as pedicabs, could be subjected to the same safety and driver training requirements as taxis," the commission said.

According to Express.co.uk, under the proposals, a new 'peak time' taxi licence could also be brought in and exemptions from licensing for wedding and funeral cars could be removed from legislation, with decisions over whether they would need licences passing to ministers.

The commission said that taxi numbers would no longer be restricted by local authorities and private hire operators would be able to take bookings outside their own local area.

The reforms would also ensure that volunteers who drive elderly people and who collect children as part of their work would no longer risk being caught by licensing rules, the commission added.

The report quoted Frances Patterson, the commissioner responsible for the review, as saying that the proposals would 'streamline and improve taxi and private-hire legislation.' (ANI)