Nine out of ten taxi passengers in Britain feel SAFE travelling, reveals independent travel watchdog

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Nine out of ten passengers who have recently travelled by taxi felt safe doing so reveals new research conducted by a transport watchdog.

Transport Focus, an independent transport user watchdog, spoke to over 2,000 people to understand what is important to them when considering travelling by taxi and what helps them feel safe making the journey by cab.

The survey comes after the Government published updated guidance last week detailing how drivers, operators and owners of taxis or private hire vehicles in England can protect themselves and their passengers against COVID-19.

More than half of those surveyed throughout Great Britain said that the driver wearing a mask was the most important consideration when booking or hailing a cab. Half of those asked also said that the screen between the driver and passenger is important.

After that, other top considerations included the ability to make a contactless payment, having hand sanitiser available and being able to open the taxi windows.

However on the other hand, the research showed that among those who haven’t used a taxi in the last four weeks just less than half said that they would feel safe to do so.

In a summing up article released by Transport Focus, a spokesperson wrote: “This is a similar story to bus and rail where our research highlights a gap between the views and experience of those people actually using public transport and the perceptions of those who aren’t.

“The taxi industry, like bus and train operators, must continue to demonstrate that it is rising to the challenge to keep its passengers feeling safe.”