Travelling Safely by Taxi
North Hertfordshire District Council has a good reputation for providing a quality taxi service and every day hundreds of journeys take place through out the district. However we are aware that some people can feel nervous about using taxis and whilst incidents involving taxis are extremely rare we have set out below a few tips to make you feel safer.
- Always use a licensed vehicle and driver.
- Record the plate number or registration number of the vehicle before you get in, or perhaps text the details to a friend or family member.
- If you have a camera phone take a picture of the vehicle and forward to a friend or family member.
- Check the drivers badge and make sure that the photograph is of the driver of the vehicle and the licence is current by looking at the expiry date.
- Check that the vehicle plates are displayed and that they have not expired.
- If you have pre-booked the vehicle from a private hire operator make sure that the correct operator is named on the rear identification plate of the vehicle as this ensures the vehicle has been booked correctly.
- When booking a taxi with a private hire operator ask for details of the vehicle and driver, for example, the vehicle make, registration and the drivers name. When the vehicle arrives make sure these details are correct before entering the vehicle.
- Make sure you have enough money to pay for the journey or agree arrangements to pay with the driver or operator before the journey commences.
- If you do not feel safe ask to be let out in a well lit area with people nearby.
- Never flag down a vehicle which does not have an illuminated taxi sign or is a private hire vehicle as you will not be insured.
- Sit in the back of the taxi.
- If you have any doubts do not get into the vehicle.
Types of Taxi Vehicles
There are two types of taxi, hackney carriage and private hire vehicles and there are a number of important differences between them.
- Hackney carriage vehicles can pick up from taxi ranks throughout the district and can be flagged down in the street.
- Hackney carriage vehicles can vary in design from the traditional London cab to people carrier type vehicles to ordinary saloon vehicles.
- Some hackney carriages licensed in North Herts are wheelchair accessible and are required to be able to carry a person seated in a wheelchair in comfort. Details of vehicles which are wheelchair accessible are shown on the 'taxi vehicles with wheelchair access' web page.
- Hackney carriages can be identified by an illuminated TAXI sign on the roof and council issued licence plates to the rear of the vehicle. These plates are yellow with black printing, and provide details of the vehicle and the licence expiry date.
- Fares for hackney carriage vehicles are set by the council and all vehicles have a meter fitted which registers the fare to pay for journeys within the district boundary. A copy of the hackney carriage tariff must be displayed in the vehicle.
- Private hire vehicles have to be pre-booked, usually by way of a telephone call to a private hire operator and they cannot be flagged down in the street. The fare to be paid should be agreed with the operator at the time of booking.
- Private hire vehicles can be identified by council issued licence plates to the rear of the vehicle. These plates are blue with black printing and provide details of the vehicle and the licence expiry date. Some private hire vehicles that undertake executive contracts/airport trips are exempted from displaying a vehicle licence plate. All exempted vehicles will display a blue 'tax disc' style licence on the front windscreen.
Taxi Drivers
North Hertfordshire District Council has set a high standard for its licensed drivers and to reach that standard every driver has to pass a Driving Standards Agency Taxi Assessment, a North Herts knowledge test, a medical and is also subject to a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check which is repeated every three years. The CRB check will reveal any criminal convictions which may result in the licence application being refused.
On successful completion of these stages the applicant will be issued with a licence and an identification badge which will display a photograph of the driver, an identification number and an expiry date. Licensed drivers are required to wear their identification badge or display the badge in the vehicle.
Taxi Marshals
As part of its commitment to ensuring a safe night-time economy in the District, the Council provide taxi marshals on the Bancroft taxi rank in Hitchin on Friday and Saturday evenings from 23:00hrs to 03:00hrs. These marshals wear orange jackets identifying them as Taxi Marshals. The marshals;
- manage the queue of people waiting for taxis
- give priority service for vulnerable people
- ensure anti-social behaviour is not tolerated at the taxi rank
- check that passengers have the necessary means to pay their taxi fare
- ensure that only licensed vehicles and drivers are operating on the rank
- ensure that passengers are fit to travel
- have a direct link to the Police, if needed.
It is hoped to extend this scheme to other taxi ranks in the District in the future.
Enforcement
Council Enforcement Officers undertake periodic ‘spot checks’ on taxis in the District ensuring that only licensed vehicles and drivers are operating. Additionally, ‘mystery shopper’ journeys are undertaken by Council Officers to ensure that passengers are being correctly charged.
Joint working enforcement work is also undertaken in conjunction with Hertfordshire Constabulary, DVLA, Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and Department of Works & Pensions (DWP) which also encompasses vehicle safety checks.
