by Mick Piercey

We all read, see and hear awful stories the public’s experiences with taxi journeys and when you look into the facts in detail most occur in unlicensed minicabs.You hear comments like, it was cheaper or it was the only taxi available, but at the end of the day it is their safety and well being that they are risking.This is the reason you should only use licensed taxis even if it might cost you a little more or you have a longer wait is a safe journey home!

So what is the difference between and unlicensed and a licensed or an authorised taxi apart from your safe journey home.Well all local authorities or councils are responsible for licensing taxis; they have a department 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 slight differences all applicable taxi regulations are pretty much the same.

Firstly looking at the vehicle itself the taxi must be fit for purpose and in good repair. It must have a full road safety or mot certificate and most council will require a separate taxi test.Quite often this extra test is required every six months. Because of the high mileage a taxi drives in a year often more than a thousand miles per week, this is an extra safeguard on the taxis road worthy ness. Enabling the local licensing authority to make sure taxis operating in its area keep to the required standard above all safe for the driver and its passengers.

They also require copies of the insurance policy for each taxi and that it provides sufficient cover.Not only for the taxi vehicle but also has adequate public liability cover so in the event of an accident you are covered.Most standard car insurance policies do not cover for hire and reward with taxi insurance this is included. So if you take the chance with and un licensed cab or taxi its unlikely the vehicle even if it is insured will not be covered as a taxi and you will not be insured! The vehicle is therefore operating outside the law.

Once the local council licensing authority is satisfied the taxi has meet all its requirements it receives a numbered plate this shows the details of that authority the vehicle make model and number plate, some also show the colour.It also shows the permitted maximum number of passengers the taxi is allowed to carry at any one time and the license expiry.Please never ask a taxi driver to take more than his maximum number of passengers as they will risk losing his job and the vehicle will not be covered by insurance for that trip.

In addition to the taxi the driver is also licensed by the local licensing authority.This requires the applicant driver to have a full medical check up on a regular basis.Also required is an enhanced criminal records or police check to ensure the taxi driver is a fit and proper person to hold a license.These details and medical are usually checked every three years.

Anyone with a police criminal record for anything the licensing authority considers improper conduct will not be granted or will have his license removed should anything convictions be found between checks.This again protects the public travelling in taxis.

Before a taxi driver is granted his or her license they also has to take a separate driving test designed for taxi drivers, that is in addition to having a full uk driving license.After all this the Taxi Driver is then tested on this local area knowledge.This is known in the taxi trade as the knowledge.Once the driver has satisfied all the requirements of the local authority they will be granted a license given a taxi drivers photo identity badge with their details on.This should be clearly displayed for passengers to see.

So next time you intend to take a taxi journey please take a few extra seconds to check both the taxi vehicle has a current plate and the Driver has his photo ID badge.Both should be issued by the authority of the area in which you are hiring and up to date.

If you are in any doubt wait for the next taxi it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Mick Piercey ceo of a long established licensed uk taxi company based in camberley surrey for more details visit thier website at: http://www.aceexecutivecars.com or for more Taxi related information visit: http://www.thetaxidirectory.co.uk/

by Ann Brown

As the days get warmer and longer, my mind starts to turn to thoughts of holidays and relaxing in the sun. So, why not get my holiday off to the good start by choosing the best possible way to get to airport.
Travelling by train is undoubtedly the most scenic way to travel but I remember a really bad experience with train from my last holiday break. It was scheduled to leave at 07:24 in the morning. It was 07:24, but no train to be seen … and no announcement, nothing. At 07:45 the train arrived. Of course, trains never compensate for their delay once they’re on the track, so I didn’t catch the connecting train. Instead I had to take the regional train (much slower). That ‘s what people face while travelling by train.
Coach is a great cheaper alternative to travelling by train. But of course tickets are often cheaper the further in advance you book them. From my experience I can say that coach travelling has never been more uncomfortable, with not enough personal space. In fact, on a recent journey, a seatmate turned to me and asked, “My dear, are the seats getting smaller and a smaller, or we are just getting bigger?” Yes, there is nothing better than a cramped, noisy coach ride.

So, is there really nothing left except from expensive taxis?

Yes, taking a cab can be the fastest and most convenient way of travelling from an airport to your accommodation, or for taking you home safely at night. A taxi driver is to meet you at the agreed pick up point. It’s like having a friend meet you at the airport. He is there even if your plane is delayed, knows where you are going to and takes you there.
I always use taxi transfers because arriving in a foreign airport is disorienting enough; it’s nice to know you can get to your hotel without a hassle. But what about the cost of having such a comfort? I can assure that there is a wide variety of taxi services offering a low price airport transfers for example to http://www.fairfare.co.uk actually invites you to submit your own price.

Why does to http://www.fairfare.co.uk allow me to determine the price of my airport transfer? Research has shown that many customers have a good idea of current taxi prices between cities and major airports. Other have a good idea of how much they wish to pay or indeed can afford to pay before considering other means of transport. With to http://www.fairfare.co.uk you may simply enter your price expectation and see if any taxi operator accepts it. If an operator is looking to sell an otherwise unused journey leg, you may hit on a real bargain. Have a go!

About the author

Aged 26, professional, interested in many areas of life like history, online shopping, travelling, leading an eco friendly life style. Currently may favourite website http://www.fairfare.co.uk

by Justin Burch

Aruba is an island of paradox. Despite the presence of numerous luxury resorts and gourmet restaurants, much of Aruba remains uninhabited. For the tourist, this simply means there is more to explore. For example, nearly 20% of the island is devoted to the sprawling Arikok National Park. Inside and outside the park, you will find gorgeous views, unique historical landmarks and ecological wonders. The roads winding through Aruba’s distinctive desert landscape offer visitors a chance to enjoy the hidden Caribbean without the crowds. Jeep rentals and taxi tours are the most popular ways to explore this island’s outer reaches and each have their benefits. This article should help you decide which method of travel is right for you.

Like anywhere else, you can certainly rent a car during your vacation in Aruba. Yet, an average car rental won’t allow you to traverse many of Aruba’s most interesting and scenic paths. Throughout the interior of the island and along the northern coast, you will be able to navigate dirt roads providing excellent views and wonderful wildlife watching opportunities. Furthermore, you won’t be bothered by many other travelers in these less-populated areas. Jeep rentals are typically affordable, too – usually between $55 and $70 per day with discounts available for 3-day and 1-week rentals.

If you intend to go it alone with a jeep rental, keep in mind that most roads will be dusty, unpaved and unmarked. However, this shouldn’t discourage you. Start with a good map of the island’s roads and enjoy your time away from the hustle and bustle. But if you do get lost, sometimes that can be almost as much fun.

If you are concerned about driving around Aruba on your own, it is also possible to travel with a jeep safari where you will drive amongst several other vehicles and a guide. If you think you need help finding certain attractions or don’t feel entirely confident with your off-road driving skills, this might be a good option. Yet, keep in mind that such jeep groups require you to move with a crowd, something that many visitors and jeep enthusiasts hope to avoid. If you decide to rent a jeep or travel with a jeep safari, consider making reservations beforehand to ensure you get your 4×4 of choice.

As fun as a jeep rental might sound, taxis certainly have their benefits in Aruba. All taxi fares are flat rate in Aruba, so you will never have to worry about the meter or having to haggle with your driver. Most cab drivers are well versed in local history and certainly know their way around the island. In fact, all cab drivers have participated in the government’s tourism awareness program.

Drivers are always flexible and can offer you private tours of the island, based on your sightseeing suggestions. Such tours can last anywhere from a few hours to all day. Taxis also operate throughout the night in Aruba to get you home safely from any bar, casino or nightclub. Fares are between $10-20 between the airport and most resorts on the island, with set rates comparable to jeep rentals for driving tours. All drivers own their own taxis and you can find any size vehicle for your family, from luxury cars to large vans. If you plan on taking a taxi tour, prepare yourself for a strong dose of friendly Caribbean attitude and some fascinating stories.

It has been claimed in numerous guide books that all of Aruba can be explored in half a day. For a true explorer, that certainly won’t be the case. Try to spend some time at each site, enjoy the view and the privacy. Once you get outside Aruba’s Hotel Zone and the capital city, you will certainly realize there is plenty to see.

If you have the time, experience the best of both worlds – take a guided tour and then spend more time exploring sites of interest on your own. However you decide to explore Aruba, you won’t be disappointed.

Justin Burch writes articles about Aruba tourism and Caribbean travel for the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino.

Yellow taxi tutors are individuals or taxi classes that provide necessary mandatory taxi driver training to persons wanting to professionally drive a yellow cab. In general, there are legitimate, licensed organizations and there can also be unlicensed persons operating taxi courses.

The special license you need to get to drive a yellow taxicab is called a hack license and having it can be a valuable asset for anyone who needs steady work.

So, for example, what if you live in or near New York City and are looking for taxi classes and organizations that can help you with the paperwork and prepare you to pass the city exam so you can start working?

You will need to attend mandatory taxi driver training classes and then study so that you can learn the various landmarks, highways, bridges and routes needed to correctly carry passengers to various destinations throughout New York City. If you can do this, then you will be eligible to get the yellow cab driver license.

Over the past two decades, as taxi driver training has become part of most major US city requirements, a number of self described educators have begun to provide a variety of tutoring services
for persons seeking to obtain the operators license.

In New York City, the taxi tutoring industry has its base due to a requirement that all applicants for the New York City Yellow Cab License must successfully complete an English proficiency exam as well as pass the map reading, geography and rules exam.

With almost ninety percent of the yellow cab driver applicants being immigrants, English training definitely becomes an important part of the live classroom training needed to pass the exam. The English proficiency factor is also very evident when comparing test scores on the geography and rules portion of exams for persons with higher versus lower levels of English proficiency.

One of the licensed yellow taxi tutors schools for the past decade has been the American Master Cabbie Taxi Academy, a designated provider of mandatory training for yellow cab drivers. Since its inception in 1996, the Academy has focused on the English proficiency by offering tutoring programs. The programs are designed specifically to enhance and expand available training for the industry with specialized English tutoring components.

As with any good thing, there are imitators. Over the years, some one man companies working out of small offices have attempted to present themselves as legitimate taxi training schools. Among a number of quality issues that arise from unlicensed schools is that they all approach the training from an ethnic standpoint. An Indian tutor courts Indian prospects and a Bangladesh tutor courts Bangladesh prospects and so on.

In their presentation or sales pitch, they explain that they can teach in the language of the student. This surely sells a few extra classes, however, it does not mean that the quality of the instruction is acceptable. There is no official organization overseeing the operation and if the student has a business problem with the unlicensed operation, there is no agency to complain to for recourse. This kind of place is simply not legally licensed.

It also means that classes are typically not provided seven days per week or that a full time office staff does not exist to provide support services such as scheduling exams, medical appointments and drug test scheduling. Most importantly, it does not provide the continuity of necessary services provided at one location which should be expected.

The one man company type will typically sell its services based on language and at the same time implies that it is connected to the official city licensing apparatus. This claim simply is not true and should warn the prospective student that separating them from their money may be the objective. The student should ask if everything required by NYC can be obtained from this kind of place or must the licensing test and required classes be taken elsewhere.

What is important to remember is if you are interested in driving professionally in New York City, do business only with licensed schools. These are organizations that are required to meet high quality standards in the yellow taxi tutoring training provided to all students. When you do business with a school that is properly licensed by the city, you have assurance that the instruction you will receive is relevant and that it will prepare you for achieving success with the license test.

About the Author:
If you know someone who needs a job and needs help preparing for the New York City yellow cab driver test, have them check out the yellow taxi tutoring classes including costs, schedules and forms. David Lee Buster has the NYC hack license and is a writer for the American Master Cabbie Taxi Academy located in New York City.

Taxi services around the world range from the very good to the hopelessly corrupt and downright dangerous – if you’ve just landed at a foreign airport, taxi trouble is the last thing you want. You’re tired, weighed down with luggage, and you just want to get to your hotel without any hassle. The bad news for travellers is that at the airport taxi drivers are most likely to try and rip you off – they know you are tired, they know you are new to the country and they know that they have the chance to trick or pressure you into paying more than you should. But forewarned is forearmed: here are five cities that are renowned for having some of the worst taxis in the world…

Cairo

Cairo is infamous as being one of the most infuriating places to catch a cab. Whether you catch a cab on the street or at the airport, taxi drivers in Cairo have a nasty tendency to be rude, aggressive and consistently overcharge. Even if you’ve agreed on a price before you start the trip, Cairo taxi drivers will invariably ask for much more when it is time to pay. Cairo veterans claim the best tactic is just to give them what you think is fair and walk away without getting into an argument – it might just be worth getting a pre-booked airport taxi and saving yourself the hassle!

Caracas

The standard white cabs of Caracas are of a good enough quality, but there is a fleet of pirate cabs (usually nothing more than unmarked cars with a paper taxi sign stuck in the window) who are notoriously unreliable. When you arrive at the airport, your taxi should be pre-booked through an airport shuttle service, or you are liable to get more than you bargained for on a ride through the Venezuelan capital.

Moscow

In Moscow, there is a “gypsy cab” culture – if you stand by the road with your thumb out, pretty much anyone will pull over and give you a lift, looking to earn a little money as they drive through the city. However, this service is completely unregulated, and can lead to arguments over fares. Unless your Russian is up to scratch, it’s best to stick to the official taxis!

Mexico City

Sometimes taxi fares feel like daylight robbery, but in Mexico this is no exaggeration! The taxi fleet in Mexico City is made up of white and green VW Beetles – they may look cute, but don’t be fooled. There have been persistent reports of passengers being driven to an ATM and forced to withdraw large sums of money. Using airport transfer services and only taking taxis that you have contacted in advance are the best ways to avoid the problem.

Lagos

The taxi drivers in this Nigerian city aren’t the problem – it’s the thousand and one petty officials who will flag your cab down looking for a bribe. “Official” checkpoints pepper the roads, and travel through the city can rapidly become very tiresome, so catch a cab in the street at your own risk!

By far the best way to avoid taxi trouble when you’ve just arrived in a country is to get an airport transfer. In many countries, the actual licensed cabs tend to be reliable and honest – it’s the unlicensed ones who are most likely to try and scam you. It may be tempting to jump in the car of the first cab who offers to pick you up, but it is well worth sticking with the big licensed taxi companies and airport shuttle services when it comes to finding your way around an unfamiliar city.

by Bruno Calzaverini

Bruno Calzaverini is the Managing Director of Shuttle Direct. Providing pre-booked airport taxis all over Europe, the company can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

by Ann Brown

Taking a taxi we focus on our comfort, but we should be also concerned about our safety. We reduce a risk when we order taxi online or find it in Yellow Pages, but if we do not do it, there is a list of taxi tips you should know before getting into a cab.
1. Always use only licenced Taxis and PHVs.
The driver must have their ‘badge’ and the car its ‘plate’. Identify them prior to entering the vehicle and closing the door. They should display licence number, expiry date and the picture of the driver or description of the vehicle. You should never agree to travel in an unlicensed vehicle with an unlicensed driver. If they are not licensed, have not been vetted for safety purposes and are not insured for your journey.
You can hail a taxi in the street or get one at a rank, or pre-book it. Private hire vehicles (PHVs, known as minicabs) must always be booked through a licensed operator. If you are approached by someone in the street offering you or your friends a taxi or any other type of vehicle for hire, ignore them.
2. If you pre-book your taxi check that the taxi that arrives is the one you booked.
Ask the Operator for a description of the car and check these details when the vehicle arrives. It would be good practice to also ask for the name of the driver beforehand.
3. Let someone else know the details of your journey.
If you are especially cautious, you might consider sending a text message to friends before entering the taxi. In your message, be sure to include the license plates, driver’s name, and identification number.
4. Do not get into the cab if there is someone else in addition to the driver
Be wary of getting into taxis that already have strangers on board or of being asked to share with strangers. Anyway, splitting the bill is confusing and shared taxis are not nearly as comfortable.
5. Always sit in the back of the vehicle behind the driver and carry your mobile phone in your hand so it is easily accessible.
Know emergency contact numbers and if a taxi driver starts giving you trouble, let him or her know that you know the appropriate emergency contact numbers, and you’re not afraid to use them.
6. Know where you are going
It is harder for taxi drivers to cheat you if you know exactly where you’re going. Before you accept shortcuts, detours, and special stops, make sure you know where you are, where you were, and where it is you ultimately want to go. Know the route or general direction to your destination.
7. Fares and tipping
To avoid potential disputes with taxi drivers, know the local tipping customs. Ask a hotel staff member or your host for the typical price range to your destination and the amount of an appropriate tip. Try to get a firm or estimated fare from your driver before you start.
8. Pay while in the cab
Know enough about the local currency to identify the bill. Make sure you have small bills as drivers won’t always be able to break large notes. Exchange money while you are still in a taxicab. That way, you can have your purse or wallet properly stored once you exit the taxi.
9. Avoid travelling on your own
There is safety in numbers, so traveling with a companion minimizes your risks and makes it much less likely that you will ever encounter a potential problem.
10. Ensure your safety outside the taxi.
When you get to your destination, ask the driver to wait and watch until you are safely inside or ask to be let out in a well-lit area where there are plenty of people.

You do not need to bother much about your safety if you place your taxi request with online booking company such as www.FairFare.co.uk. First of all, you are sure that you go with fully registered taxi operator. You receive all your journey details and taxi operators contact details to your email box, and you have saved a clear record of all your previous journeys. Moreover, you can try your barging skills entering your price expectations and when your request is booked, your price is guaranteed. These are just few benefits of online taxi booking with http://www.fairfare.co.uk

About the author :  Aged 26, professional, interested in many areas of life like: history, online shopping, travelling, leading an eco friendly life style. Currently may favourite website http://www.fairfare.co.uk