Keeping Safe in Cambridge Taxis
Most of us have heard or seen and read awful stories of the public experiences with minicab journeys and when you examine the story in full the majority come about in unlicensed taxis and minicabs. Most victims say it was cheaper or the only kind of taxi to hand but in the end it’s their safety and well being that they are risking. This is the reason you should only use licensed Cambridge Taxis for you safe journey home.
The difference between and unlicensed and a licensed or an authorised taxi is your safety. Cambridge City Council are responsible for taxi licensing in Cambridge; they have a section that issues licenses for both the taxi and its driver. Every licensing officer works from the same guidelines so throughout the UK with the exception of a few slender differences all applicatory taxi regulations are quite uniformed. The first consideration is the taxi itself, the vehicle must be fit for purpose and in good working order . 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 required 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 Cambridge licensing authority to make sure taxis operating in Cambridge keep to the required standard above all safe 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 provides 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. The majority standard car insurance policies do not include for hire and reward this is included in a taxi insurance . So if you take the chance with and un licensed cab or taxi its probable that the vehicle even if it is insured you or it will not be covered for hire and reward as a taxi and therefore operating outside the law .
Once the areas local licensing authority is satisfied the taxi has complied with all its conditions it will receive a numbered plate this will show the details of that authority the vehicle make model and index plate number , manyalso show the colour. It also shows the maximum permitted number of passengers that the vehicle is licensed to carry and the license expiry. Please do not ask a taxi driver to take 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 Cambridge Taxi licensing authority. This requires the applying driver to have a full medical check up , as well as an enhanced criminal records or police check to ensure the taxi driver is a worthy person to hold a license usually every three years. Nobody with a criminal conviction for anything the licensing authority considers improper conduct will be granted or will have his license cancelled should any convictions be discovered between checks, this additionally protects anyone using licensed taxis.
Before a taxi driver is granted his or her license they also have to take an extra driving test designed for taxi drivers, that’s in addition to having a full driving license test. In addition a test on the local district they are going to work in known in the taxi trade as the knowledge. When the driver has satisfied all the requirements of the local authority they will be given a taxi drivers photo I.D badge with their information on which should be clearly visible for passengers to inspect.
Anyone intending to take a taxi journey in Cambridge should take a minute to check both the taxi vehicle has valid license plate and that the taxi drivers photo id badge is also visible and up to date if in doubt, wait for the next taxi to come along. Today it is easy to use most mobile phones to go on line and pre book or find the contact details of a licensed Cambridge taxi cab or private hire taxi operator from a good mobile taxi directory, or airport taxi directory, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
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