Staying Safe When in a Taxi or Private Hire Vehicles
If you are going to be out late or don't want to travel on public transport on your own, try to arrange a lift home with someone you know or make your journey by taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV, sometimes called a minicab).
Taxis and PHVs give you a degree of protection because vehicles and drivers must meet suitability criteria, including local minimum standards for vehicles and a criminal record and health checks for drivers, before they are licensed by your local council (district/borough council, unitary authority or Transport for London).
You can hail a taxi on the street or at a rank as well as pre-booking it but you can only pre-book a PHV through a licensed PHV operator (not a PHV driver).
You should always ensure that you travel in a licensed taxi and PHV by checking the vehicle's signage or plate and the driver's badge. You should never agree to travel in an unlicensed vehicle with an unlicensed driver.
Check that the taxi or PHV that arrives is the one you ordered. Ask for a description of the car - colour, make, etc - and check this when it arrives. You could also ask for the name of the driver beforehand.
If you pre-book your taxi or PHV, make a note of the company you are using, and the telephone number, and if possible leave it with a friend.
When you get to your destination, ask the driver to wait until you are inside.
If you are approached by someone in the street offering (ie touting for) a taxi or PHV journey, ignore them. Touting is an offence. Indeed, it has recently been made recordable so that fingerprinting and DNA tests can be made on offenders.
If travelling alone, always sit behind the driver in the back seat.
If you feel uneasy, ask to be let out in a well-lit area where there are plenty of people.
If in any doubt, make an excuse and don't get in the vehicle.
The security of drivers is important too. Safety and security aids will range from a simple Perspex screen between the driver and passenger of a saloon car to sophisticated CCTV equipment.
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