On 18/10/2015 20:33, Robin9 wrote:
'Basil Jet[_4_ Wrote:
;151204']On 2015\10\17 10:02, Robin9 wrote:-

However, any mentally competent person can tell
the difference between a London Hackney Cab and a minicab. The
idea that a meter - inside the vehicle, remember - is necessary to
enable people to differentiate is absurd.-

What if the taxi and PH are both Mercedes "Vito"s?

You have a good point. There is of course a slight difference:
the taxi will have a small square white plate at the bottom of
the back doors while the minicab will have yellow stickers on the
windscreens.

I've been told by a taxi driver that the famous taxi vehicle is
unpleasant and liable to catch fire, and that consequently many
taxi drivers are eager to have a different vehicle. That they have
chosen the same vehicle many minicab drivers use is something
that never seems to arouse comment.

Only vehicles of a type (ie, make/model) approved by the Public Carriage
office may be licensed as taxis in London.

That rather limits the range of different vehicles which may be "chosen"
by London taxi-proprietors.

Essentially, the choice is between the Carbodies (LTI) taxi, the
Mercedes model referred to above and a similar Peugeot. The PCO relaxed
the rules about the required 24' turning circle (between kerbs) in order
to allow the Merc and the Peugeot to be licensed. They would not have
passed that test.