Law Commission to review transport accessibility for disabled people

Inner Temple Library Current Awareness

Published March 23rd, 2026

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

The Law Commission has launched a three-year review of transport accessibility law for disabled people in England and Wales. This review, commissioned by the Department for Transport, aims to address the 'patchwork' of existing legislation and will include a public consultation in Autumn 2027.

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What changed

The Law Commission has initiated a comprehensive three-year review of the legal framework governing the accessibility of transport for disabled individuals across England and Wales. This review is prompted by concerns that the current fragmented legislation hinders disabled travelers' understanding of their rights and access to redress. The Law Commission will assess the adequacy and consistency of laws across various transport modes, examine enforcement powers, and evaluate the effectiveness of current remedies.

Regulated entities, particularly transport operators, should anticipate potential changes to accessibility requirements and enforcement mechanisms. The review process will involve extensive engagement with disabled people and relevant organizations, including a public consultation scheduled for Autumn 2027. The Law Commission is expected to publish its findings and recommendations in February 2029, which could lead to significant legislative reforms aimed at creating clearer, stronger, and fairer rights for disabled travelers.

What to do next

Monitor Law Commission's progress and engagement activities
Prepare for public consultation in Autumn 2027
Review current transport accessibility policies and procedures

Source document (simplified)

All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated.

To view this licence, visit:
https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3

or write to:
Information Policy Team,
The National Archives,
Kew,
London TW9 4DU

or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

This publication is available at:
https://lawcom.gov.uk.

Law Commission to review law on accessibility of transport for disabled people

Published:

March 23, 2026

Disabled people across England and Wales could benefit from clearer, stronger rights when travelling, as the Law Commission launches a three-year review of transport accessibility legislation.

The review, commissioned by the Department for Transport, follows a 2025 Transport Select Committee report finding that accessibility failures across all transport modes are having a “significant negative impact” on disabled people’s lives. The current legal framework — described as a “patchwork” of overlapping laws — makes it difficult for disabled travellers to understand their rights or seek redress when things go wrong.

The Law Commission will assess whether existing laws need to be strengthened and made more consistent across buses, trains, taxis and other modes of transport. It will also examine whether enforcement bodies have sufficient powers and whether current remedies are adequate.

Disabled people’s lived experience will be central to the review. The Law Commission will engage a wide range of individuals and organisations throughout the process, with a public consultation planned for Autumn 2027.

Disabled people deserve to travel with confidence, knowing their rights are clear and enforceable. This review is an important opportunity to make sure the law in this area is simpler, stronger and fairer for everyone affected. Professor Alison Young, Commissioner for Public Law and the Law in Wales From speaking to passengers, I know the challenges disabled people face when travelling on our transport network.

That is why I am delighted that the Law Commission has agreed to this review so we can give disabled people and transport operators the clarity and certainty they need, helping to make transport fit for everyone. Minister for Roads and Buses Simon Lightwood The review will also consider how the legal framework can keep pace with technological change and shifting demographics, helping to ensure long-term accessibility for future travellers.

The review is expected to report in February 2029. Full details of the project can be found on the project page.