Should taxi numbers be strictly limited?
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IS CONTROL of the number of taxis licensed necessary? If so, should it be extended equally to private-hire cars?
G. A. Coe and R. L. Jackson, of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, have been applying their energies to the questions. Their studies show that where control of taxis is relatively strict, the value of the vehicles is usually higher than in places where licensing is lenient. Operators also seem to continue longer in business. On the other hand, they do not appear to exploit their protected position by soaking the public.
There is evidence that relatively strict control of taxi fleets encourages the unregulated operation of private-hire cars, which tends to negate any benefit from limiting taxis.
"It seems to add weight to the argument that if a district council deems licensing (and hence presumably quality control) of the taxi trade to be desirable," say the researchers, "it should also be applied to private-hire cars." Whether any control of the number of taxis or hire cars is necessary must, however, ultimately depend on how the authorities interpret the general public interest, they conclude.