5 things you didn’t know about taxis
Do you think that you know everything there is to know about taxis? Consider yourself a bit of a taxi whiz? It’s time to put that knowledge to the test with 5 things that you didn’t know about taxis in the UK.
1. Taxi drivers don’t have to wear seatbelts
As a taxi driver in the UK, you do not, in fact have to wear a seatbelt. This is for a number of reasons. Firstly, it is so the driver is not restrained if he or she was to be attacked from behind. In the unfortunate event of this happening, the taxi driver can simply slip out of the vehicle without the hassle of unclipping their seatbelt. If you have been in a taxi in the last few years, you may have noticed that there is now a glass screen in place as an extra layer of protection for the driver.
On the other hand, if a taxi driver is doing an airport or train station run, it will allow them to smooth their passenger’s transition by taking their luggage or helping them with other carry-ons.
2. The soiling charge
A soiling charge is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. An additional cost if the taxi is to become… dirty. It is the driver’s responsibility to clean-up any mess in the back of their taxi, though it is not without compensation. The soiling charge amounts to cover the loss in earnings the driver forfeits whilst having to clean-up the mess you made. Long story short, if you can, just hold it in.
3. You really shouldn’t shout ‘TAXI’!
Despite the endless rom coms you may have seen that follows a gorgeous man, desperately shouting to flag down a taxi to stop the love of his life from getting to the airport to leave him forever, you really shouldn’t try to recreate this scene. Shouting at a taxi can actually distract the taxi driver, which can ultimately be quite dangerous. It is also technically still illegal to shout for a taxi.
Instead, the correct way to hail a taxi is to simply wave your hand out to signal that you are waiting for a ride. Also, only try to hitch a lift with a taxi whose light is on in their taxi sign- usually it will be illuminated orange.
4. Only 2% of London’s cab drivers are women
Of the 24,000 taxi drivers in London, only less than 500 of them are women. This trend can also be seen in the UK as a whole, not just in the capital. However, they do tend to count for at least half of all passengers.
5. The longest taxi journey ever was around 32,000 miles
Yes, you read that correctly, that’s a taxi journey of over 30,000 miles. Though this was no normal taxi journey, rather one that went across continents, across the globe. Three British men drove from London, England to Sydney, Australia in a London black cab. This is also the Guinness World Record for the longest taxi journey, after they drove through war zones and over perilous roads to reach their final destination.
And now you know all there is to know about taxis! If you want to find out more, you can visit our website and complete a free taxi insurance comparison online!
