London black cabs are one of the most famous ways to get to work in the city. London owes this amazing system of transportation to the ever growing demand for a reliable way to get people and materials to and from work places. The cab system has grown greatly over the years. It has been reported that the amount of car use has increased almost twenty fold since the early nineteen hundreds.
A black cab or a hackney is a standard vehicle or carriage for hire in London. Back then a hackney was a much more upscale or expensive taxi. Hackneys were well furnished with plush seats, plush wallpaper, fancy leg-holds, a leather headrest, fancy armrests, etc. Today, due to the lack of space cab and hackneys are more average looking. They are just like any other standard taxi.
The cab itself can be considered the heart and soul of this system. It is usually the largest of the three vehicles used to transport cabbies and passengers to and from the different destinations. The size of the hackney carriage will vary depending on what the customer requests. For instance a very large delivery could require a much larger or bigger carriage than a small delivery or even a single passenger.
The old types of cabs are modeled after the traditional models of traveling in old style cities like New York, Paris, or London. These older hackneys were very narrow with only about twelve feet between the cars and the street. The windows would be tinted dark so that the drivers could see the outside world even in the dark. These old livery cabs are still available in some of the more rural areas of London and can be hired easily at taxi stops in those areas.
These days the cab models of most London taxi companies are the modern version. They are narrower with only six to eight feet between the cars and the road. Most of the cab units are electric and have HID lights for better visibility in the dark. This is one reason why the price of the London black cab is more affordable than it was years ago.
As you would imagine with so many vehicles on the road, there are some challenges for drivers in London. One of the most common complaints is the lack of courtesy on the roads of London. Many drivers are either too impatient to bother giving signals or just don’t know any better. It really doesn’t matter what type of taxi you hire as long as the driver is competent enough to make it through the city’s streets. You don’t have to worry about having an inexperienced driver behind the wheel because all of the licensed London black taxi cab drivers undergo comprehensive training and are tested on a regular basis to ensure their safety.
The standard of the cabs in London has also improved over the years. When it comes to safety and reliability, the recent improvements to London cabs can be credited to a number of factors. For one, the cab licensing requirements have been eased up, which allows more people from less affluent backgrounds to drive the London black cab. At the same time, the drivers are required to undergo examinations every three years in order to keep their licence valid. This is done as a way to protect London’s cab drivers and also to ensure the safety of the public.
Another factor that plays a crucial role in determining the safety of London cabs is the condition of its meters. Maintaining the correct amount of meter charge is very important as it can seriously affect the cab driver’s reputation. If the drivers continue to charge beyond the allowed amount, they can be ticketed by the traffic police and fined heavily. Of course, this does not mean that all London taxi drivers follow this rule. However, it is important that they do so because this is the law.
