MeKnows

In general terms there are two types of taxi – hackney and private hire. In most cases people people differentiate the two by the type of vehicle used by the drivers – hackneys tending to be full spec black cabs and private hire vehicles tending to be standard cars such as saloons, estates and MPV’s.

Hackney taxi cabs and private hire vehicles all require a license, obtained from local councils. While the taxi light on Hackney cabs makes them easier to spot and hail from the street, many private hire cabs do not have top signs. They also differ in that they are not permitted to pick up passengers who hail them in the street and must be pre-booked before the journey.

The danger lies in picking up an unlicensed cab on your own. This is akin to getting a lift from a complete stranger which would be dangerous enough if you're in a group but definitely not a safe option unaccompanied. At 3am on a Sunday morning in winter some people may feel tempted to take any transportation they can get but this is certainly not a good idea.

With bogus cab related assaults being reported every month councils in areas such as Wakefield and Oxford have recently mounted campaigns to educate people about the dangers of unlicensed taxis. Wakefield council have introduced a scheme requiring taxi drivers to wear a badge to prove they are legitimate. This is a simple way of giving passengers piece of mind.

Recognising an authorized and safe taxi is in fact very simple.To ensure you are getting into a licensed cab have a look for the council’s taxi license plate which should be displayed prominently on the outside of the vehicle e. On private hire cabs this is normally displayed on the bumper to the side of the number plate. With hackney cabs, look for the roof top ‘For Hire’ sign and meter.

If you’re going to hail a cab on the street late at night it’s also generally recommended that you only use taxis from registered ranks so that you can be sure that they are licensed and safe to get into. With a registered and licensed cab you can also be reassured that the vehicle you get into is safe for travel.