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There’s a better than average chance that by now, you’ve heard about those ‘app’ connected taxi services that are quickly becoming popular here in the UK. But the big question on everyone’s mind is “Am I safe when I use one of these services”?

If you haven’t heard about these ‘app’ connected taxi services, here’s how it works. You decide which ‘E-Hail’ service you wish to use. Examples would be Uber and Lyft. You then use a phone app to find a car that is registered with their service that is in your vicinity. That car picks you up, and takes you where you want to go, sometimes (but not always) cheaper than a black cab you would hail on the street.

Unlike traditional medallion taxi companies, or a black cab service, just about anyone can drive for Uber or the other E-Hail services. Basically, all you need is a car and a smartphone app. There’s no license check. (Ever hear of a driving job where your driver license is not checked before you start?) Didn’t think so … me neither.

There is however a downloadable video test which you will need to pass, which is just about as difficult to master as tying your shoes. After you pass, you get all your paperwork in an ‘official, for your eyes only’ email, and then you’re off.

This makes it sound just a tad easier than it really is. There are a few other things that need to be addressed before you can start on your new career. The right shirt? That one’s kinda easy, not too many wrinkles and no smell. But what about insurance?

Services like Uber require all drivers to have taxi insurance. They do provide supplemental insurance, however only when the app is on. It works like this… When the app is off, then the driver is covered by their own insurance. When the app is turned on, a low level of liability insurance kicks in. As the driver accepts a trip/fare, a higher level of coverage begins, and remains in place until the passenger exits the vehicle. Important to note is that no app is infallible. Things can and do go wrong.

Kicking in, and kicking out? What about in-between? This has of late been dubbed ‘the gap period’, This gap period is the time when the app is on, but there is no passenger in the vehicle, and has become a lightning rod for controversy for drivers, regulators, and members of the public as well.

You may be thinking … “Well, he’s got his personal car insurance, right? No problem.” Not so fast. Most personal car insurance policies have a list of exclusions, and one of them is ‘driving-for-hire’. Ouch…

Facts don’t lie. Regardless of what the different E-Hail services say about not being a Taxi Service, if you pick up passengers, at a pre-booked location, for Financial Reward, you are effectively, a private hire driver.

If you are driving around ferrying passengers as an ‘app’ driver, then you need to have commercial taxi insurance. A normal car insurance policy is not sufficient, and in all likelihood would be voided in the event you are involved in an accident while driving for an E-Hail service.

These ‘app’ services are side-stepping the established regulations and are effectively providing a hail-down service, something that only black cabs are permitted to do. Standards that are set low for entry to what has become an immediate hire market means that drivers that are untested, and not professionals, are being let loose to practice on the public.

E-Hail services promote their services to potential customers with the expectation they will be receiving first class limousine service for less than regular taxi prices. This is being done at the expense of its drivers. Because of the continued intake of new drivers by companies like Uber and its competitors, along with their price competition, the earnings of a driver are being pushed downward. Because of this, drivers are increasingly having to work longer hours in order to earn an income comparable to what they had made previously. Longer hours behind the wheel jeopardizes the safety of both drivers and their passengers. Ultimately, the only thing this can do, is add to the stress of drivers, and this will bring about poor service and poor safety in the long run.

Because the drivers are paid so very little for their time by these companies, in an attempt to cut corners is often made by sharing their phones with other drivers who are unapproved, non-licensed, and worst of all, non-insured. This tiny action can put the general public in grave risk. Cheap is not always good. It’s your choice of course, but consider this …

Black Cab drivers are self-employed and pay taxes like any other small business. You would be hard-pressed to find a Black Cab driver that does not know the London roads like the back of their hand. Each and every Black Cab driver that is pushing themselves around the roads has undergone vigorous testing on their road knowledge. This test, called The Knowledge, involves a detailed verbal conversation where the driver must tell the best route from point A to point B to point C and then back again, from any of 250,000 random locations.

A Black Cab driver is further obliged to take a driving test in order to prove that they are worthy of carrying people through busy hectic streets. This test is known as the DSA Taxi Driving test. It includes the teaching of proper techniques for both picking up and dropping off passengers safely. In addition, all Black Taxi Drivers must complete, and pass, an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) test to further ensure that they are to be trusted in the transporting of individuals.

So which would you rather ride with: an app-connected E-hail driver with no training and possibly invalid insurance or a professionally trained, vetted Black Cab driver with the right insurance to cover you in case things go wrong? Your choice.