Things You Might Not Know About the Taxi Industry
From London’s first taxi to the world’s first taxi meter, and a surprisingly long journey across the globe. We’re looking at some interesting taxi industry facts that you might not be aware of.
Read on to find out more.
The unusual way people got around before taxis
You might be wondering how people got around before the first taxi was introduced in the UK. The answer? Horse-drawn carriages. In the early 1600’s, horse-drawn carriages were available to book for London residents.
London’s first taxis were electric
The first taxi to hit London roads that wasn’t horse-drawn was ahead of the curve and electric. In 1897, Walter Bersey invented The Bersey Taxi which reached top speeds of 9-12mph.
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of The Bersey Taxi, read our article – the first London electric taxi you didn’t know about.
Over 90% of taxi drivers are male
Each year the UK Government releases official statistics on the taxi and private hire industry. It’s well known in the industry that female drivers are few and far between.
Newly released figures show that 93.6% of drivers were male in 2024, up from 90% for the previous 10 years.
It takes around four years to become a London taxi driver
Part of your job as a cabbie is knowing your local area like the back of your hand. But for London taxi drivers this is slightly more challenging given the size of the capital.
In 1865, The Knowledge was introduced to help with this - which all drivers to this day still need to memorise. Students will usually spend between three to four years mastering The Knowledge before undertaking a test.
It’s illegal to hail a cab by shouting ‘taxi!’
If you’ve watched any TV show or movie, you’ll be familiar with people flagging a cab down by shouting ‘taxi!’. But believe it or not, this is illegal as it could distract the driver.
The taxi meter is older than you think
It’s probably hard to imagine life as a taxi driver without a meter. But did you know the first taxi meter was introduced over 100 years ago in 1891?
Wilhelm Bruhn invented the first meter that could accurately calculate the fare by measuring the distance.
In 1897, Gottlieb Daimler went one step further and invented the Daimler Victoria. This was the first gasoline powered taxi with a built-in meter.
The longest taxi ride on record is over 43,000 miles
Yes, you read that right – 43,000 miles! Leigh Purnell, Paul Archer, and Johno Ellison currently hold the Guiness World Record for the world’s longest journey by taxi.
In February 2011, they set off from Covent Garden in London on an epic trip covering 43,319.5 miles across the world.
Over a year later after taking in four continents and 50 countries, they returned to their starting point on 11th May 2012.
Now you’re probably thinking, that must have been an expensive taxi ride! In total, £79,006.80 was clocked on the meter.
Discover your next taxi at The Taxi Centre
Looking for your next taxi? Let us help you at The Taxi Centre. We have a wide range of new, used, and electric taxis from industry leading manufacturers. So, you won’t be short on choice.
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Contact us today to start your search.