Using Taxis Safely
How to stay safe when using a Taxi service:
With the nights drawing in, here are 9 safety tips to keep in mind when using a taxi service. Dialacar Taxis of Leighton Buzzard take great care with the safety of all their customers and hope this post will be useful whichever service you use.
Let someone know your travel plans.
A friend or relative knowing when and where you are traveling will ensure that somebody will be able to make sure you’re safe if you do not stick to your plans. Remember to inform your friend if your plans change so they do not needlessly worry.
Book your journey with a well known and licensed operator.
Whilst any operator licensed by the local authority will be safe, we recommend booking with a well known and reputable taxi service for your peace of mind. Be aware that there may be fraudulent websites or phone numbers advertised on the internet that may not be legitimate taxi services. In our area, the council updates a list of registered operators each month.
Check the plate on any vehicle before getting in.
Any licensed taxi or private hire vehicle will have a special license plate in addition to the regular number plate. In our area, licensed by Central Bedfordshire Council, the plates will detail the make and model of the vehicle, its colour and passenger capacity, as well as giving the license number. The vehicle should also display an additional identity card inside the front windscreen. Checking that the details on the plates correlate and match the vehicle will help to ensure the taxi is registered.
If in any doubt, ask to see the drivers identity badge.
Licensed drivers are obliged to wear their identity badge which will display their name and picture, with the date the badge is valid til. Recently, an Aylesbury man was caught operating private hire work without a valid license so it is important to be vigilant against illegal drivers.
Ask the driver to confirm the destination.
A top safety tip when entering a pre-booked car is to ask the driver to confirm the exact destination you will be traveling to. This will confirm that the vehicle is the one you have booked and also has the benefit of avoiding a mix-up when multiple vehicles have been booked to pickup at the same location.
When hailing a cab, ensure it is a Hackney Carriage.
A Hackney Carriage (commonly referred to as a ‘taxi’, but not to be confused with a ‘private hire vehicle’) is the only type of vehicle that is able to be flagged down or reside in a taxi rank. In our service area, many of the larger vehicles are Hackney Carriages as they are required to be accessible for disabled passengers (although this does not necessarily mean that all larger vehicles are Hackney Carriages). The vehicle’s license plate will confirm whether it is a private hire or hackney carriage vehicle. Further, only Hackney Carriages are permitted to display a taxi top box sign.
Ask for an estimated price.
To avoid any confusion on price, private hire vehicles are required to be booked and have a price for the journey agreed before travel. When using the services of a Hackney Carriage, the prices are mandated by the local authority and fares should be displayed in the vehicle. Make sure the driver starts their meter when they set off to ensure you are charged the correct amount for your journey. Any of our drivers will be happy to give a rough estimate of the price of a journey so you can make sure you have sufficient money on you.
If you have any doubt over the validity of a vehicle do not get in.
It can be hard to verify all the information displayed quickly whilst a vehicle is pulling up. If you are unsure of a vehicle simply take your time to evaluate the situation: if you are still unsure, move to a safe space away from the vehicle (preferably indoors) and ring the taxi company to ask whether the vehicle has arrived and to confirm its registration number. A good technique can be to ask the taxi office to get the driver to relay a passphrase to you to confirm they are your driver.
Leave in a well lit area.
When it is dark, we recommend asking your driver to stop in a safe and well lit area. Have your keys ready so you are able to enter your house quickly: any of our drivers will be happy to wait for you to be safely inside before driving away if you are concerned.