h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Private Hire Cabs in London - A708888
Author: HappyDude®[Scout&Guru]Keeper of Happiness & Fluffy Cuddly Soft Toys, Jester@Balwyniti, dressed as a girl-short skirt-long jacket - U150533

waits for *flack*

This isn't flak, it's just that for this entry to be of any use to me I need a lot more good, basic, down-to-earth practical information! Like:-

What's the difference between the different types of cab service?
What are the differences between their operating licenses?
What am I entitled to insist on?
What are they within their rights to refuse?
How do they charge - on distance, on time, or what?
Can I pay by credit card?
How much luggage can I take?
What extras are they entitled to charge me for?
Can I specify a female driver - a)if the passnger is female, b)if male, c)if a couple?
What facilities are there for special needs or disabilities?
Do they know their way around or am I expected to guide them?
How much do I tip?
What does their insurance cover?

- and other stuff like that.

I've just been involved in producing a leaflet on 'Women's safety in minicabs'. It says basic things (in no particular order) like:

asking for a female driver if you feel more comfortable;
asking for a child seat if you have a small child;
being specific about what time you want picking up and asking for a driver's name;
asking about facilites for disabled people if you need those;
getting out of the cab and paying through the window;
specifying a particular route to your destination, if you are more comfortable that way;
making an excuse to get out (I've remembered I need to visit a friend who lives here) if you feel uncomfortable in the cab;
making your arrangements to be picked up at the end of the evening beforehand;
asking about luggage - how much can they take and do they charge extra;
remembering that if things go wrong, you have the right to complain, to the company and to the Police, if need be.

Its sad that people still feel the need for such leaflets but if it reassures people then it’s a good thing, I don’t know if its gone to press yet but a few things to bear in mind.

asking for a female driver if you feel more comfortable;
remember that not all companies have female drivers and even if the company dose you may have to wait longer for your cab.

asking for a child seat if you have a small child;
It is rare for a Private Hire Driver to carry a child seat (although they are more than happy for you to use one that YOU supply).

being specific about what time you want picking up and asking for a driver's name;
asking about facilities for disabled people if you need those;
Private Hire operators are required to take very specific information including the time of the pickup – all drivers are legaly required to carry I.D. cards, ask to see it. Private Hire cabs (unlike Hackney Carriages which are required by law to be wheel chair friendly) use normal vehicles that have no special provision for disabled passengers although they are more than happy to accommodate such passengers (it is best to alert the company to any special needs when ordering the cab)

specifying a particular route to your destination, if you are more comfortable that way;
that’s fine but be prepared to pay more.

making an excuse to get out (I've remembered I need to visit a friend who lives here) if you feel uncomfortable in the cab;
Just ask the driver to stop you don’t have to provide an excuse.

making your arrangements to be picked up at the end of the evening beforehand;
If you do not know what time your evening will finish get the number of a company that operates in the area your going to before you go.

asking about luggage - how much can they take and do they charge extra;
Private hire Cabs are in general normal family sized cars – use your common sense, extra will be charged if you need an estate car or a hatchback with its rear seats folded down.

remembering that if things go wrong, you have the right to complain, to the company and to the Police, if need be.
Before complaining to the police (except in an emergency) if your not happy with the companies response to your complaint then complain to the licensing authority (in London the Public Carriage Office, outside London normally the local council).

One final point if a female passenger is travelling by herself they should sit on the passenger side in the rear of the vehicle.

Updated the page

The flack comment wuz because I know there are a couple of h2g2 researchers who are in the black cab trade

Yes, It's looking good!

I wasn't implying that using minicabs was unsafe. I live in London and there have been a couple of cases of rapes in minicabs over the last couple of years. LB Enfield do a good Minicab Safety leaflet - I'll give you the link tomorrow.

I'm of the opinion that the more you know about how to keep safe and what to do if you find yourself in trouble, the less you're likely to need it. Knowledge is power, etc.

PS, I did a survey of minicab companies in my borough a few years ago to see whether they are able to provide child safety seats and most didn't, but some did.

It's the *driver's* responsibility to ensure that children use seatbelts not the parents' (and hence s/he will get fined if they don't), and although there's no legal liability to provide a special child seat, there is a legal obligation to use seatbelts. Also drivers may not carry children under the age of three in the front seat without a special seat.

The rules relating to children are the same for any driver. I wasn’t implying any criticism of you leaflet, as I said anything that reassures people is a good thing BUT the only thing people have to remember is to use a reputable company (one that is licensed & LPHCA Graded).

And now I'm going to rant:
"I live in London and there have been a couple of cases of rapes in minicabs over the last couple of years"

Almost always when one hears about this sort of thing it is not a minicab driver but an illegal tout, the press (& certain members of the public) seem to have a great deal of difficulty distinguishing between legitimate Minicabs & illegal touts.
A couple of recent examples of this
28/12/2001 in three-inch block capitals on the front page of the ‘London Evening Standard’ "MINICAB SEX ATTACKS SOAR" - now this was a story about illegal touts, a fact only revealed a few paragraphs later.

Another article that appeared shortly after the Standard one in the ‘Wandsworth Guardian’ reported the attack on a woman by a minicab driver - when a reporter from 'Private Hire & Courier magazine' contacted the police to verify the story and ask why they did not contact the company the passenger booked the minicab from who would have a record of the driver - it turned out yet again it was not a minicab driver but an illegal tout.

Even the BBC is not much better ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1078000/1078727.stm
The Headline "Women warned after 'minicab' rape" is somewhat misleading when the women was not raped by a Private Hire driver but an illegal tout? Private Hire vehicles (minicabs) can only be used by pre-arranged bookings. These illegal Taxis's are not minicabs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_1612000/1612307.stm
They have not shown a picture of a Private Hire vehicle. The police would stop the vehicle shown immediately, it is illegal for a London Private Hire vehicle to have any form of markings that identify it as a cab and only and only licensed hackney carriages can call use the word "taxi".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1548000/1548981.stm
Headline "Racist attack on Afghan taxi driver" - a minicab is not a Taxi (unless it is operating illegally).


This is just a small example of the way that the words "taxi" & "minicab" are being used interchangeably by BBC news-online to describe "private hive vehicles" & "illegal touts/taxis". I expect a higher standard of journalism from the BBC.

Small update made

Hi HappyDude!

I based mine on one from Enfield, which appears to be based on one from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust: http://www.suzylamplugh.org/advice/minicabs.htm which might be good to quote, as the main site does not 'point' to it.

If the link is moderated (I'm not sure where we are with the trial), it's the main one with /advice/minicabs.htm after it.

Entry's looking really good now!

PS: About the 'rant'. I totally take your point - however, the fact remains that women have read the reports/heard them on the radio/seen them on TV - and no doubt there are some who are frightened because of it. The Suzy Lamplugh advice gives sensible guidelines. Knowing what could happen if you are unwary and how to safeguard yourself can make women more confident.

I know where your coming from - I just think its sad that people do not realize the industry has moved on a lot in the last 15 years and is now undergoing licensing. This mistrust is almost entirely due to the antics of the illegal touts/taxis & it pisses me off when people who should know better (such as the media) fail to distinguish between them & the legitimate trade. Remember that that the advice on the 'The Suzy Lamplugh Trust' is general & not London specific.

I know.

As an aside and nothing to do with minicabs, one of my female work colleagues was abducted at knife-point two days ago and forced to drive a few miles in *her* car to a car park. Fortunately she wasn't harmed. The abducter was dressed completely in black and there were no identifying markings, even to the point of his trainers having their markers removed. He was apparently casual (pinching one of her cigarettes from the dashboard). This was in London.

not good

Update now in review, see F149889?thread=598926