Are more taxi drivers switching to EVs?
Patons Insurance
by Freya Took
1d ago
Taxi drivers have been encouraged to switch to EVs with the promise of greener, cheaper motoring. The ride so far has been a bumpy one, but there are signs the road ahead is starting to look clearer. Taxi drivers were identified as playing a key part in our drive towards cutting pollution and Net Zero Carbon because they are on the road every day. They operate in the busiest and most polluted areas and getting them to switch to electric vehicles cuts pollution and offers a safe and sustainable way of getting around our busy streets.   EV challenge Like other motorists, taxi drivers have f ..read more
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Which of our top 5 cars will be your next taxi or PHV?
Patons Insurance
by Freya Took
6d ago
Finding the right car is the most important decision a taxi or PHV driver has to make. It is a huge investment in their business and one they must get right. They need the right tool for the job, whether they work in busy towns and city centres or focus on longer journeys such as airport runs. Whatever they go for must be affordable and practical – and something they can trust will do the job from day one. The vehicle they choose will also have an impact on their taxi insurance, whether they are public hire drivers choosing an iconic black cab, or a family-size estate or SUV for private hire w ..read more
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Things are really taking off in world of flying taxis
Patons Insurance
by Freya Took
1w ago
The idea of flying taxis still seems like something out of a science fiction movie – even though they could be hovering over the streets of Paris, taking passengers to and from this summer’s Olympic Games. Sci-fi has become reality – the technology exists, the flying taxis have been built and test flights have been carried out. But, understandably, flying cabs must satisfy multiple safety and aviation regulations before they are allowed to operate – and all the licences needed for this summer’s Olympics are not quite there.   Legislation Public hire taxis and PHVs go through checks to ens ..read more
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Taxi drivers hit out at rising licensing costs
Patons Insurance
by Freya Took
2w ago
Taxi drivers want a council to explain why their licensing fees – which they say are already among the highest in their region – are about to rise again when the service they receive is “appalling”. Taxi and private hire drivers registered with Dudley Council are unhappy that their fees will increase by 2.3% from April 1. Both taxi and PHV drivers currently pay £475 for a three-year licence, on top of their taxi insurance and rising fuel costs. The BBC reports they feel even more aggrieved that the same licences cost £98 in neighbouring Wolverhampton and £352 in Sandwell. In Birmingham, prices ..read more
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Speed limit ‘prank’ is nothing to laugh about
Patons Insurance
by Freya Took
2w ago
Few people like being pranked, especially when it leads to a fine, points on their driving licence, rising insurance premiums, a driving ban and, in the case of taxi drivers, the loss of their livelihood. This is precisely the situation hundreds of drivers are facing after pranksters changed a 40mph speed limit sign for a 50mph fake on A20 near Sidcup, south-east London. The switch resulted in thousands of drivers being caught by speed cameras, while believing they were keeping to the speed limit. The road is normally 50mph but had been reduced to 40mph by Transport for London while work was b ..read more
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‘Taxi tax’ will be final nail in the coffin, say PHV drivers
Patons Insurance
by Freya Took
3w ago
PHV drivers are calling on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to stop the ‘taxi tax’ in his Budget on Wednesday, amid fears a 20% fares hike will hit drivers and passengers “like a train”. Fares could rise after a High Court ruling last year that taxi companies were liable for VAT – not drivers. Now, HMRC wants 20% VAT levied on the full fare of all PHV rides – which would raise prices for passengers across the country. The Independent explains that under current rules, PHV bases do not pay the tax because “drivers are classed as independent, self-employed contractors who do not meet the required earnings ..read more
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Can wheelchair users get into your taxi or PHV?
Patons Insurance
by Freya Took
3w ago
Today is International Wheelchair Day, when users celebrate the positive difference a wheelchair makes to their lives. But, despite changes and improvements, it is also a reminder of the difficulties they still face, including using taxis and PHVs. As seen in our picture of John and Billy Paton introducing the first wheelchair-accessible FX4 Fairway in the late 1980s, modern black cabs are designed with disabled access in mind. But not all public hire taxis follow the traditional black cabs model, and PHVs usually have to be adapted for wheelchair access. Apart from the practical obstacles of ..read more
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Should Private Hire Vehicles be allowed to use bus lanes?
Patons Insurance
by Ben Smith
1M ago
As one authority moves towards letting private hire drivers use a bus lane on a busy route, we look at why they aren’t allowed to use them in the first place, and what happens to drivers who ignore the rules. Access to bus lanes is decided by each local authority and it is usually only buses, public hire taxis, cyclists and motorcyclists can use them. Some are permanent bus lanes while others are only operational from set times, such as morning and evening rush hours, or throughout the day. In these instances, the lanes have to be marked with the operational times clearly visible.   Traff ..read more
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The changing face of the public-hire taxi driver
Patons Insurance
by Freya Took
1M ago
Becoming a London back cab driver was seen as the pinnacle of the profession, with taxi drivers proudly memorising thousands of routes around the capital before earning their coveted taxi badge. Outside London, Hackney carriage drivers were also seen as the elite in the trade and public hire insurance allowed them to be hailed in the street or taxi rank. This set them apart from PHVs or minicabs, which could only be booked in advance under private hire insurance.   Technology Advances in technology have changed the way we use taxis and have been the driving force behind modernising the in ..read more
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Praise for taxi driver and couple who reunited woman, 95, with her family
Patons Insurance
by Freya Took
1M ago
Taxi drivers are no strangers to going above and beyond the call of duty. They are on the front line and see people at their best, as well as their worst. We have previously mentioned a Telford taxi driver who rescued three young children left stranded on a railway platform as a train departed with their mother stuck on board. He was praised by police and the children’s grateful mum for keeping them safe and driving them home until they were reunited with family. And this week, we speak to another cabbie whose kindness really made a difference. It is particularly timely as Wednesday – St Valen ..read more
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