Basingstoke Taxi Safety Tips

We all hear, see and read upsetting stories of the public experiences with minicab journeys and when you look into the report in detail the majority come about in unlicensed taxis and mini cabs. Most victims say it was cheaper or the only kind of taxi to hand but at the end of the day it's their safety and well being that they are risking. This is the reason you should only use licensed taxis for you safe journey home from Basingstoke.

The difference between and unlicensed and a licensed or an authorised taxi is your safety. Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council are responsible for taxi licensing in the Basingstoke Area; they have a department that issues licenses for both the taxi and its driver. Although every licensing officer works from the same guidelines so throughout the UK with the exception of a few slight differences all applicable taxi regulations are pretty much uniformed. The first consideration is the taxi itself, the vehicle must be fit for purpose and in good repair . It must be roadworthy with a full mot certificate and the majority of local authority will require a separate taxi test quite often this extra test is mandatory every six months. Because of the high mileage a taxi covers per annum often more than 50 thousand miles, this is an extra check on the taxis road worthiness.

This enables the Basingstoke and Dean licensing authority to make sure taxis working in its area keep to the required standard the main consideration being the safety for the driver and its passengers. They also require proof of an insurance policy for every taxi not only to check that it is valid but also to make sure that it includes sufficient cover not only for the taxi vehicle but also that it has adequate public liability cover so in the event of an accident you are covered. Most standard car insurance policies do not include for hire and reward this is included in a taxi insurance . So if you are willing to take the chance with and un licensed cab or taxi its unlikely the vehicle even if it is insured you or it will not be covered for hire and reward as a taxi and thus operating outside the law .

Once the Basingstoke and Dean taxi licensing authority is satisfied the taxi has complied with all its conditions it receives a numbered plate this shows the details of that authority the taxi make model and index plate number , manyalso show the colour. It also displays the maximum allowable number of passengers that the vehicle is licensed to carry and the license expiration. Please do not ask a taxi driver to carry more than the maximum number of passengers as they will risk losing their job and the vehicle will not be covered by insurance for that trip .

In addition to the taxi, the driver is also licensed by the Basingstoke and Dean local licensing authority. This requires the applying driver to have an extensive medical examination , along with an enhanced criminal records or police check to ensure the taxi driver is a worthy person to hold a license normally every three years. Anyone with a police criminal record for anything the licensing authority regards as improper conduct will be granted or will have his license removed should any convictions be discovered between checks, this again protects anyone travelling in licensed taxis.

Prior to a taxi driver receiving his or her license they must also take an extra driving test designed for taxi drivers, that's in addition to having a full driving license test. In addition an examination on the local area they are going to work in known in the taxi trade as the knowledge. When the driver has meet all the requirements of the local authority they will be given a taxi drivers photo identity badge with their information on which should be clearly displayed for passengers to inspect.

Anybody intending to take a taxi journey in the Basingstoke area should take a few extra seconds to check both the taxi vehicle has valid license plate and that the drivers photo id badge is also visible and up to date if in doubt, wait for the next taxi to come along. Nowadays it is possible to use most mobile phones to go on line and pre book or find the phone number of a Basingstoke licensed taxi cab or private hire taxi operator from a good mobile taxi directory, or airport taxi directory, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry.

~ Basingstoke Taxi Safety Tips ~