The Government is to run a public consultation on the laws that govern taxis with the aim of improving passenger and driver safety
The online consultation, which concludes 31 March 2010, will ask the public for their views on taxis, regulations and licensing laws with questions such as abolishing the distinction between hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, qualifications for licence-holders and the use of bus lanes by taxis. The Institute of Licensing estimate that 600 million journeys are made by taxi or minicab every year, with 69,000 taxis licensed in England. Existing laws date back to 1847 and it is hoped reforms will create a safer and greener form of transport.