Private Hire

As taxi firms struggle with shortages of drivers, a taxi boss believes bringing more women into the industry will not only solve the problem, but will improve services, especially as the majority of taxi customers are women.

Rachel Dale, head of operations for AAA Taxis, is among a number of people calling for change in the male-dominated taxi industry.

Improving technology has changed the way most people think about driving. A lot of the focus has been on electric vehicles and the drive to steer us all towards a greener future.

There have also been advances on driver assistance tools, such as cruse control, lane assistance, adaptive braking, self-parking and, more recently, autonomous vehicles.

For passengers, taxis are vehicles that take them where they want to go and they pay the fare at the end of the journey. Most know they have to book some and can just jump into others.

Advances in technology and the way we live today mean that some of the lines have become blurred. So how easy is it for passengers to tell them apart and why is it important?

Taxi drivers have become an extra emergency service this year, as ongoing travel disruption has led to misery and chaos across the country.

Cancelled flights and industrial action on the railways have seen more people choose to stay at home this summer, while many have had their plans ruined at the last minute.

Traffic lights are a daily obstacle for drivers around the world, but where would we be without them?

There are more than 33,000 traffic lights in the UK and it is estimated that drivers spend eight minutes a day waiting at red lights – that adds up two days a year.

There are few places you can go today without being picked up by an array of security cameras.

Whether it is in a bank, shop, or just walking down the street, the average person is filmed about 70 times a day.

After enduring two of the hottest days on record, it’s typical that the temperature drops and it starts raining as schools break up for the summer holidays.

But don’t let the weather spoil your plans for the summer holidays. Whether you’re going to be jetting off, heading out on day trips, or enjoying nights out, you can rely on taxis to safely get you where you need to go.

Cash has always been king in cabs, but the improving technology followed by the pandemic have seen a major switch change in direction away from notes and coins.

As payments by card and by mobile phone have become the norm in shops, restaurants and businesses around the world, advances in mobile technology have meant people can use their cards on the go.

The biggest industrial action on the railways for decades has seen mixed fortunes for taxi drivers.

Those desperate to reach their destination are jumping in a cab due to the rail strike.

With just a month to go before Manchester has to submit its revised Clean Air Zone plan to the government, there are calls for it to be reduced by 95 per cent to only include the city centre.

The original zone included all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, with thousands of taxi, bus, van and lorry drivers and businesses facing eye-watering charges for driving anywhere in the region from May 30.

As we look forward to celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this bank holiday, taxi drivers will be doing everything they can to help people get to and from events safely.

However people are celebrating, they will all be looking forward to raising a glass to toast her majesty’s 70-year reign.

As with standard car insurance, most taxi drivers take out annual cover and renew their taxi insurance policy every 12 months.

But there are cases where policies can be taken out to provide cover for only weeks or months at a time.