London’s black cab drivers do far more than get people from A to B and have traditionally been held up as an example to the taxi trade worldwide.
Despite all the challenges they face, from soaring costs to increased competition, it is a vocation many not only still love but excel at.
And despite the number of iconic black cabs operating across London, ferrying tourists, residents and businesspeople around the capital, those who go the extra mile really stand out.
Recognition
Freenow by Lyft’s latest driver recognition event focused on qualities such as high-trip volumes, long-standing service and wider contributions to the taxi trade and local communities.
The awards last month celebrated Driver of the Year, Legacy Driver and Driver’s Driver as part of its ongoing engagement with licensed taxi drivers using the app.
And their achievements were rightly shared across the taxi trade press, including Taxi Point and PHTM.
Seven drivers were named Driver of the Year 2025. The award recognises those with the highest trip volumes, strong customer satisfaction scores and consistent operational performance.
The winners were Chris Jones, David Arthur Porter, Andrew Keen, James Kevan Jones, Antony Hizer, Faisal Dahir and Koray Hassan.
The Legacy Driver category recognises drivers who have been operating on the platform for the longest period.
The winners were Neil Chadwick, Jim Parlour, Mark Andrews, Jason Todd, Perry Richardson and Matthew Emmerson.
Celebrating colleagues
And the Driver’s Driver award, based on nominations from other taxi drivers, focused on contributions beyond day-to-day fares. Three drivers were recognised to celebrate different aspects of trade and community engagement.
Penesta Shanaj was named Female Driver’s Driver. The mother-of-three has been a taxi driver for 11 years and campaigns for more women to become taxi drivers.
James Kent received the Taxi Community Driver’s Driver award. At the age of 74, James has been a black cab driver for more than 50 years and was an early partner of Freenow by Lyft. He is a campaigner for taxi drivers’ health, particularly prostate health and encourages colleagues to attend regular health checks.
Ahmad Faghiri was named EV Champion Driver’s Driver. Ahmad, aged 51, works across Kingston and Chiswick, and is a campaigner for electric vehicles, especially among the trade, citing lower running costs, improved passenger comfort and environmental benefits.
Above and beyond
Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at Freenow by Lyft, said: “Black cab drivers do far more than get people from A to B. They’re a constant presence in their communities and often go above and beyond what’s expected of them. We’re incredibly proud of the drivers being recognised, and events like this are an important way to shine a light on the wider role they play.”
Antony Hizer, one of the drivers of the year, said: “I love what I do as a black cab driver. It’s a job that keeps you on your toes, gives you the chance to meet people and be part of the community. Being recognised for that is really rewarding and it’s a great feeling to know the work we do everyday matters.”
Awards such as this are a fantastic way to recognise commitment and success, especially in an industry where major changes are happening and there is a lot of fear and uncertainty about the future.
100% effort
Not everything is perfect, but they love what they do, recognising the challenges along the way and trying to find solutions that help the entire trade.
As well as going above and beyond what is expected of them, they also ensure the basics are taken care of, including spotless cabs, chatting with passengers, and ensuring maintenance, MOTs, servicing and taxi insurance are up to date.
Congratulations to all the winners who have been recognised for doing what they do day in and day out, enhancing the reputation of the entire trade.
