Staying safe: guidance for taxi drivers

As a taxi driver you are dealing with strangers, often in isolated places and carrying cash. Taking people off the streets or from ranks with no knowledge of their home address or telephone number means that if they cause trouble you are especially vulnerable. If you work at night you are likely to have to deal with people who have drunk too much alcohol. All this means you may be at risk of violence.

This guide is designed to help you protect your safety.

Cash management

Adjustments to your vehicle

If you are linked to a control centre

Staying safe

If you feel threatened

If you are attacked

After an incident

Ensuring your earnings are fair

50+ hours a week you can make anything from £250 - £400, that is after you pay the office you work for, pay for your car and your insurance. You have to remember that you work for yourself; you are not entitled to holiday pay anymore.

Minicab offices, who shall I work for?

You have to think carefully before deciding which company to work for. They will charge you weekly and these charges vary from one to another. In small company rent can be £70 per week, up to £160 per week in larger ones. Usually, the bigger the company the more runs that will be available to you. There is no guarantee on how many jobs you will get from the office, so at times it can be frustrating to pay £160 in return for little work.

There are specific Bonus Periods, but these fall into holiday seasons that you may not wish to work. Firstly, the summer holidays provide many airport runs, and depending where you work, there can be more tourists and more club/pub work. December is also considered as a busy month with more work and greater tips.

Remember big companies will require newer car. It is common to be refused work for big company with car older than fiveyears. You will find small companies that will allow you to work with six-seven year old car.


Staying safe: guidance for passengers

Travelling by taxi or minicab is generally safe, but it is important to take precautions, such as making sure the vehicle is licensed.

Make sure your taxi or private hire vehicle is legal
A taxi or private hire vehicle (minicab) that is unlicensed is operating illegally and has not gone through the proper checks that licensing authorities enforce.

Do not use a cab if:

The driver appears to be under the influence of alcohol
The driver does not seem to know the local area
The vehicle seems to be too old for use as a cab
The vehicle is in a state of disrepair
Licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles

Safety tips while travelling

Make a note of the number plate and driver’s licence number and text them to someone as an extra precaution
If you have a camera phone you could also take a picture of the vehicle
Always sit in the back of the vehicle
Carry your mobile phone in your hand so it is easily accessible

Taxi safety in London

Transport for London (TfL) has initiatives to make taxi travel safer throughout London.

Marshalled ranks

Throughout London, there are several marshalled ranks where the marshal will make sure you get a licensed cab. The marshall will also make sure the driver knows your destination. Marshalled ranks operate only in certain areas and at certain times of night, usually only at weekends.

Transport for London (TfL) runs a Cab Unit which is dedicated to keeping passengers safe by stopping minicab touting and catching drivers who are unlicensed or unsafe. It is vital that you make sure your taxi or minicab is licensed. TfL has an online database which allows you to search for licensed operators.

You can also text ’home’ to 60835 to receive a message listing local licensed operators.

Taxi Fares

Local licensing authorities have the power to set taxi fares for journeys within their area, and most do so. (There is no power to set PHV fares.) These authorities pay particular regard to the needs of the travelling public, noting both what it is reasonable to expect people to pay but also to the need to incentivise taxi drivers so the the service remains available when needed. This often means higher fares at times of higher demand.

Taxi fares are a maximum, and are open to downward negotiation between passenger and driver. It is not good practice to encourage such negotiations at ranks, or for on-street hailings; there would be risks of confusion and security problems. Local licensing authorities usefully make it clear that published fares are a maximum, especially in regards to telephone bookings, where the customer benefits from competition. There is more likely to be a choice of taxi operators for telephone bookings, and there is scope for differentiation of services to the customer’s advantage (for example, lower fares off-peak for for pensioners).

It is likely that your local authority will have details of average taxi fairs in your area, and it is useful to familiarise yourself with them.

For example, below are estimated average Taxi Fares within Central London:

Disabled Passengers

Taxi drivers now have a duty to ensure disabled people are not discriminated against or treated less favourably. In order to meet these new duties, licensing authorities are required to review any practices, policies and procedures that make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled person to use their services. Licensed taxi drivers in England and Wales are also under a duty to carry guide, hearing and other prescribed assistance dogs in their taxis without additional charge. Only drivers who have a medical condition that is aggravated by exposure to dogs may apply to their licensing authority for an exemption from the duty on medical grounds.