SAFETY FIRST AT THE TAXI DIRECTORY
The Taxi Directory only allows Licensed Taxi Companies to advertise on its site for a very good reason and that is your safety. We all hear and read awful stories of peoples experiences with cab journeys and when you look into the story in full most occur in unlicensed taxis and minicabs
The difference between and unlicensed vehicle and a licensed or authorised taxi is your safety. All local authorities or councils have a taxi licensing department that issues licenses for both the vehicle and the driver. Each licensing officer works from the same guidelines so throughout the country with the exception of a few minor differences all regulations that apply to the taxi trade are pretty much standard. Firstly if we look at the vehicle it must be fit for purpose in a good standard of repair. Not only with a full mot certificate but most council insist on a separate taxi test quite often this additional test is required for than once a year. This is a double check on the taxis road worthy ness because of the high mileage a taxi does each year, usually well over 1000 miles a week, it enables the licensing authority to ensure taxis operating in its area are of a uniform standard and above all safe for the driver and its passengers. They also require copies of the taxis insurance policy and that it provides adequate cover not only for the vehicle but also public liability so in the event of an accident you are covered. Taxi insurance covers for hire and reward with most standard car policies this are not included. So if you get in an un licensed minicab or taxi the chance is the vehicle even if it is insured you or it will not be covered for use as a taxi and therefore illegal. Once the taxi has meet all the requirements of its licensing authority it is given a numbered plate this shows the details of the authority who issued it the vehicle details and number plate. It also shows the maximum number of passengers the taxi is permitted to carry and the expiry date of the license. Please never ask a driver to exceed the maximum number of passengers as they will lose their job and the taxi will not be insured for that journey. In addition to the vehicle the taxi driver is also licensed by the local authority. This requires the driver to have a full medical, usually every three years along with an enhanced CRB criminal records police check to ensure the taxi driver is a fit and proper person to hold a license. Anyone with a criminal record for anything the licensing authority considers improper conduct will not be granted or will have his license removed; this again is designed to protect the public travelling in taxis. Prior to obtaining his or her license a taxi driver also has to undertake a taxi drivers test, that’s in addition to holding a full uk driving license and additional a test on his local area knowledge. See our page on The Knowledge for more details. Once the driver has meet all the conditions required they too will be given an identity badge with their details and photo on this should be clearly visible for passengers to see.
The Taxi Directory recommends that before any journey for your safety you check the taxi is displaying a valid plate on the back and that the driver’s identity badge is also in order.
Seat Belts and Child Restraints
The following information is provided as a guide only as the law stood on Sept 2006. Please ensure you check for any amendments and up to date information as we accept no liability for any errors or omissions.
Failure to wear a seatbelt carries a fine of up to £500, but no points will be endorsed on your licence. A fixed penalty notice will usually be issued, allowing you the option of paying a £30 fine.
Who needs to wear seatbelts? There are new regulations governing the wearing of seatbelts in cars,vans and goods vehicles, which will apply from 18 September 2006. The changes relate specifically to children and how they are secured in your vehicle. From 18 September 2006 in cars, vans and goods vehicles Front seat Rear seat Who is responsible? Driver Seat belt MUST be worn if available. Driver Child up to 3 years* Correct child restraint MUST be used*. Correct child restraint MUST be used*. If one is not available in a taxi, may travel unrestrained. Driver Child from 3rd birthday up to 135cms in height (approx 4'5") (or 12th birthday whichever they reach first)** Correct child restraint MUST be used***. Where seat belts fitted, correct child restraint MUST be used. Must use adult belt if the correct child restraint is not available:
- in a licensed taxi/private hire vehicle; or - for a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity; or - two occupied child restraints prevent fitment of a third. A child 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not available. Driver Child over 1.35 metres (approx 4ft 5ins in height) or 12 or 13 years Seat belt MUST be worn if available. Seat belt MUST be worn if available. Driver Adult passengers (ie 14 years and over) Seat belt MUST be worn if available. Seat belt MUST be worn if available. Passenger In addition, the revised regulations also say that rear-facing baby seats MUST NOT be used in a seat protected by a frontal air-bag unless the air-bag has been deactivated manually or automatically. * Children under 3 years MUST use the child restraint appropriate for their weight in all cars, vans and other goods vehicles, with the single exception for the rear of taxis. They cannot travel otherwise. This means for example that they may not travel in cars, vans or goods vehicles which do not have seat belts installed. ** Examples. A 7 year old who is 140 cms tall is over the height for a child restraint and may use an adult seat belt. A 12 year old who is 130 cms tall is over the age threshold and therefore may use an adult belt. *** If no seat belts are fitted in the front, then children under 135 cms in height (who are also under 12 years of age) cannot travel in the front.
In buses and coaches (including minibuses), seated passengers aged 14 years and above will have to use seat belts where they are fitted. Regulations requiring children 3 years to 13 years to use seat belts (or child restraints if they are available) in these vehicles will be brought forward as soon as practicable. The regulations will not include any obligation for anyone to provide child restraints in these vehicles. Bus and coach (including minibus) operators need to notify their passengers that seat belt wearing is compulsory, where they are fitted. Exemptions for children Three exceptions allow children 3 years to 135 cms in height to travel in the rear and use an adult belt: • in a licensed taxi/private hire vehicle, if the right child restraint is not available; or • for unexpected necessity over a short distance, if the right child restraint is not available; or • where two occupied child seats in the rear prevent the fitment of a third child seat. Children under 3 years may travel in the rear of a taxi unrestrained if no child restraint isavailable. Child restraints and seat belt adjusters"Child restraints" is the collective term in the seat belt wearing legislation for baby seats, child seats, booster seats and booster cushions. Modern child restraints are designed for specific weight ranges of child. They have to meet UN ECE Regulation 44.03 (or subsequent) type approval standard and be marked with a label (showing an "E" and "44.03" or ".03") and the Group number, or weight range of child, for which it is designed. All child restraints that meet the Regulation 44.03 type approval standard are approved for use in forward-facing or rear-facing seats. Manufacturers use different names for their products so the names we have used below may not always apply and are a guide only. Manufacturers sometimes combine weight ranges in one product so that it can be used over a longer time as a child grows. It is the weight of the child that decides the restraint that must be used. • Group 0 and Group 0+. These are baby seats - rear-facing and for children up to 10kg and up to 13kg respectively (approx age birth to 9-12 months); • Group I. Child seats - forward facing and for children 9kg to 18kg (approx 9 months to 4 years); • Group II. Booster seats - for children from 15kg to 25kg (approx 4 to 6 years), or 15kg up to 36 kg); • Group III. Booster cushions - for children from 22kg and up to 36kg (from approx 6 years). Seat belt adjusters are comfort devices and not safety devices (check what the manufacturer says about them and their intended use). Only if an adjuster is labelled that it has been approved (and therefore tested) to the UN ECE Regulation 44.03 type-approval standard can it used instead of a type-approved child seat/booster.
Exemptions from seat belt wearing
The legislation provides for a number of specific exemptions from the seat belt wearing requirements on medical and other grounds. Please consult your doctor if you think you should not wear a seat belt on medical grounds. As for the others these include:- "(b) the driver of or a passenger in a motor vehicle constructed or adapted for carrying goods, while on a journey which does not exceed 50 metres and which is undertaken for the purpose of delivering or collecting any thing; (c) a person driving a vehicle while performing a manoeuvre which includes reversing; (d) a qualified driver (within the meaning given by regulation 9 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1987) who is supervising the holder of a provisional licence (within the meaning of Part III of the Act) while that holder is performing a manoeuvre which includes reversing; (e) a person by whom, as provided in the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1987, a test of competence to drive is being conducted and his wearing a seat belt would endanger himself or any other person; (f) a person driving or riding in a vehicle while it is being used for fire brigade or police purposes or for carrying a person in lawful custody (a person who is being so carried being included in this exemption); (g) the driver of— (i) a licensed taxi while it is being used for seeking hire, or answering a call for hire, or carrying a passenger for hire, or (ii) a private hire vehicle while it is being used to carry a passenger for hire; (h) a person riding in a vehicle, being used under a trade licence, for the purpose of investigating or remedying a mechanical fault in the vehicle; (j) a disabled person who is wearing a disabled person's belt; or (k) a person riding in a vehicle while it is taking part in a procession organised by or on behalf of the Crown." Fitting Seat Belts All new cars must have: • Front and rear seatbelts fitted that must be worn Older cars that do not have seatbelts: • Do not need to have them fitted and worn, but cannot be used for carrying children However if seatbelts are fitted in older cars they must be worn.
This information is provided as a guide only as the law stood on Sept 2006. Please ensure you check for any amendments and up to date information as we accept no liability for any errors or omissions.