Taxi Drivers - seatbelts
- Thread starter Maccy
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Soldato
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I'm sure I've been told of some reason why they're exempt because of the risk of them being assaulted in their cabs and the seatbelt being used against them, but I never really thought much about it, or whether or not it was true.
I've heard it from more than one person but you hear lots of bull from more than one person, so who knows.
I've heard it from more than one person but you hear lots of bull from more than one person, so who knows.
Soldato
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They don't have to wear them while carrying a passenger apparently.
Soldato
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Just googled it up, it seems that they don't have to wear a seatbelt if they're carrying a fare, but should wear one if they are not - it's to do with the risk of being attacked. Someone said that hackney carriage (hailable cab) drivers don't have to wear one at all, private hire cab drivers (most cabs outside london.. all?) only don't have to wear one when carrying a fare.
Soldato
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I guess just generally pootling around town it's not that bad but surely wearing a seat belt on 40mph + roads would be a no brainer.
Taxi drivers are exempt from wearing seatbelts while seeking hire, answering calls for hire, or carrying a passenger for hire. If they aren't working they should be wearing one (i.e. using the car for personal purposes).
The reasons for this rule are a bit vague, ranging from getting away from assaults to spending large amounts of time getting in and out, but the fact is, they are exempt.
The difference between Hackny Carage and Private hire is:
Hackney Carage Taxis are able to pick up fairs off the street. They can be 'waved down' and can take unbooked fairs. They exist all over the country, but only in big cities do they tend to be the London Cab style cars. If you have ever gotten into a Taxi anywhere without having to book, it was a Hackney Carage. It is a different licence governed by the council, with tests done on cars suitability annually aswell as driver health checks and other rules. Its more difficult to get a Hackney licence. It is classed as Public Transport (pensioners can use their travel tokens in Hackney Cariges)
Private Hire Taxis can only collect pre booked fairs. You are not able to 'flag down' a private hire taxi. They can only collect booked work. They cannot pick up from taxi ranks. They arent as strictly regulated and I dont think the cars are tested, and im not sure even the drivers are. Easier licence to get. They are a hireable private service. Just like a Limo. They are Private transport (i.e. no Pensioner travel tokens)
A hackney carage driver can be exempt from wearing a seatbelt all the time at work as they will always be deemed to be 'seeking' a fair whenever not carrying one as they can be flagged down at any time. Private hire cars are not working while not carrying a fair, so are only excempt whilst carrying a fair, as while not carryign a fair they are not seeking, they are simply another road user.
Make sence?
The reasons for this rule are a bit vague, ranging from getting away from assaults to spending large amounts of time getting in and out, but the fact is, they are exempt.
The difference between Hackny Carage and Private hire is:
Hackney Carage Taxis are able to pick up fairs off the street. They can be 'waved down' and can take unbooked fairs. They exist all over the country, but only in big cities do they tend to be the London Cab style cars. If you have ever gotten into a Taxi anywhere without having to book, it was a Hackney Carage. It is a different licence governed by the council, with tests done on cars suitability annually aswell as driver health checks and other rules. Its more difficult to get a Hackney licence. It is classed as Public Transport (pensioners can use their travel tokens in Hackney Cariges)
Private Hire Taxis can only collect pre booked fairs. You are not able to 'flag down' a private hire taxi. They can only collect booked work. They cannot pick up from taxi ranks. They arent as strictly regulated and I dont think the cars are tested, and im not sure even the drivers are. Easier licence to get. They are a hireable private service. Just like a Limo. They are Private transport (i.e. no Pensioner travel tokens)
A hackney carage driver can be exempt from wearing a seatbelt all the time at work as they will always be deemed to be 'seeking' a fair whenever not carrying one as they can be flagged down at any time. Private hire cars are not working while not carrying a fair, so are only excempt whilst carrying a fair, as while not carryign a fair they are not seeking, they are simply another road user.
Make sence?
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Just as bad round here, drive like complete loons to get back for their next fare.
Had one over take me in a 30mph one night with a full load of passengers.
The abundance of taxi drivers around here generally seem to wear seat belts , from what I've noticed in the past. Private hire though?
On the other hand, I've been getting in and out of taxis for as long as I can remember and I don't recall ever wearing a seat belt?
On the other hand, I've been getting in and out of taxis for as long as I can remember and I don't recall ever wearing a seat belt?
Can't say I use taxis much but I did notice the driver in the last one I used put his seat belt on when we got off the main road (30MPH) onto the dual carriage way out of town (60MPH) and took it off again once we were back in a built up area - I thought it a bit weird at the time but didn't really think anything of it.
Soldato
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They're exempt in case you try to mug them.
not really it should be sense