Originally Posted by
Scots_Al
Certainly in the U.K., there's a technical difference between a taxi and a private hire - the latter can't be hailed in the street, for example. But in common parlance, they are often all called taxis, and Uber and all the rest of them will be licensed private hire drivers.
As an ex-controller ion a minicab firm in Harlesden, Oh yes, this is so very important. Hackney (Carriage) licenses are held by proper taxi drivers and in the case of London they pass the most rigorous test (the Knowledge Test) I have ever seen globally. I did a fair amount of it while in London in the mid-80's but as a desptach rider I struggled with the concept of following ALL the rules. But this is why the proper taxis are licensed by the police themselves. Mincab drivers (includes Uber) do not go through the same level of training at all. This is why I found the cars in Belfast so laudable. They were as professional as I have seen and all were minicabs.