How do I know if my taxi is safe?

My Top 10 Taxi Safety Tips
  1. Save Emergency Contacts. Save emergency contacts on your phone. ...
  2. Enable GPS Tracking. Use Google Maps or another app for GPS tracking. ...
  3. Try Rideshare Services First. ...
  4. Make Sure Your Ride Is LEGIT. ...
  5. Discuss The Price. ...
  6. Note The License Plate. ...
  7. Get Into The Back Seat. ...
  8. Stay Vigilant.




People Also Ask

Are taxis safe? For the most part, yes. Taxis have a long history, and you can generally rely upon official ones to take you where you need to go.

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Book your cab in advance. Ask the operator for the name or car number of the car that is scheduled to pick you up. This is especially important at airports, where there often are unlicensed cabs waiting outside to pick up desperate travelers.

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Yes, unless you're flagging down a black taxi. Don't flag down a private hire taxi on the street, even if it has a visible license plate and the driver looks okay. It's not safe to get in an unbooked private hire taxi and it's illegal for the driver to pick you up if you haven't booked in advance.

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Restrictions and Requirements
  • complete a driving skills assessment.
  • have a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 12 months, or 3 years if working in London.
  • pass background checks.
  • pass a medical check.
  • be over 18 but over 21 in some areas, including London.


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The original design of the London black cab didn't even have a passenger seat. It had a rack, on which you placed your luggage before retreating to the peaceful rear. This confirmed the convention at an early stage. The normal, balanced passenger occupies the back seat of a taxi.

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From Driver Rule 54-20 (in PDF): It is against the law to refuse a person based on race, disability, or a destination in New York City. A taxicab driver is required to drive a passenger to any destination in the five boroughs. You can make a refusal complaint by calling 3-1-1.

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From taxis to rideshare services, it can be hard to decide which option is best for your needs. But if safety and reliability are your top priorities, then taxis may be the way to go.

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  • You have a big responsibility for your passengers.
  • Taxi drivers don't make much money.
  • You don't have a regular schedule.
  • Taxi drivers have to work at nighttime.
  • Some cab drivers even have to work on weekends and holidays.
  • Can be problematic for your family life.


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No matter if you are male or female, young or old, it's important you keep yourself safe when getting a taxi. Getting a taxi is generally considered safer than walking home alone, or getting public transport, however there are still risks.

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Also let the cabbie know if you have a route in mind that you'd prefer the driver to take, as this will ensure that you avoid any disputes later on. In most black cabs the two front seats are usually partitioned off by a screen and it's common for customers to sit in the back rather than in the front.

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Get Into The Back Seat The back seat is almost always safer. While in most places it's more common to sit in the front seat of the taxi, it's almost always safer in the back. This can seriously prevent unwanted sexual approaches from the driver.

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While tipping for taxi drivers is entirely normal, it certainly isn't a requirement in the UK. Indeed, your passengers should never feel pressured into tipping.

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It is illegal for taxi drivers to lock passengers in their cab in the UK. This is considered false imprisonment, which is a criminal offense. False imprisonment is defined as the unlawful confinement of a person against their will. This can include physical restraint, such as locking someone in a car or room.

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You can't take children under 3 on an unexpected journey in a vehicle without the correct child car seat, unless both of the following apply: it's a licensed taxi or minicab. the child travels on a rear seat without a seat belt.

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There's no need to shout “taxi” and indeed, it's actually illegal to shout “taxi” whilst trying to hail a cab.

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Stop Here or Stop here, please is fine, especially if both of you are speaking English as a second language.

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The gentleman slides across the seats so as to minimize the lady's effort and potential for wardrobe malfunctions. A gentleman always goes first in taxis, revolving doors at rest, and boats.

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Many have already installed CCTV cameras for their own driver and passenger protection, but they're only mandatory under a small number of licensing authorities in the UK – about 3% last year. There have been some notable objections to the notion of making CCTV mandatory in taxis.

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Private hire vehicles must never stop or wait in taxi ranks, or the driver will be subject to a Penalty Charge Notice and potentially licensing action.

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