Professional hackney carriage and private hire drivers have responsibility to ensure that their fare-paying passengers have a safe, comfortable and enjoyable journey.
As professional drivers, taxi drivers have a special responsibility to set an example to others by driving with courtesy and consideration. Many taxi drivers will have years of driving experience under their belt and be able to demonstrate a good standard of driving.
The principles of good practice are set out throughout this book. Study them to check that you haven't developed particular driving habits which may not be conductive to good driving practice.
Throughout this section 'hackney carriage drivers' and 'private hire drivers' will be referred to as 'taxi drivers' and 'fare-paying passengers' as 'passengers'.
If you wish to become a taxi driver you should contact your local authority to enquire about licensing arrangements in your area for both yourself as a prospective driver and your vehicle. Regulations differ from one local authority to another, whether you intend to drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.
The main differences between hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are shown below.
A hackney carriage can be
- Hailed on the street
- Driven by any authorised licence holder when carrying a passenger.
A private hire vehicle cannot be hailed on the street.
The badging and licensing requirements for both hackney carriages and private hire are renewable and lie with the licensing authorities.
Regulations
Although regulations differ between local authorities, they all require a
- Medical check which includes an eyesight test
- Criminal Records Office check
- Current driving licence - even if you have penalty points on your licence, you may still be able to apply. Check with the licensing authority
- Fee for issue of the license.
Many authorities require a driving test of some description. In some areas these are carried out by DSA Driving Examiners conducting special tests for taxi drivers.
Medical check - consult your doctor first if you have any doubts about your fitness.
You may be refused a licence if you suffer from certain conditions including epilepsy.
Diabetes or do not meet the more stringen eyesight requirements (a full list can be found on the report form).
You'll need to send a medical report to your taxi licensing authority. The medical examination isn't free under National Health rules. Your doctor is entitled to charge the current fee for this examination, which will be your responsibility. You will have to submit this form within the specified time of completing it for it to be valid.
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