TAXI AND PHVs PER PERSON: New DfT stats show City of Wolverhampton streets ahead of licensing rivals

Statistics show City of Wolverhampton Council are streets ahead in the licensing ratios, offering up a single taxi and minicab to every 12 residents in the region.

The latest statistics on licensed taxi and private hire vehicles (PHVs) per 1,000 people in England have been unveiled, offering insight into the transportation landscape across the country.

These figures shed light on the disparities in vehicle provision between urban and rural areas, as well as differences in licensing policies and processes.

According to the data, as of 2023, there were approximately 5.1 licensed taxi and PHV vehicles per 1,000 people in England. This marks a noticeable increase from 4.6 vehicles per 1,000 people in 2022. The collected information however demonstrates a decreasing trend of licensed vehicles per 1,000 people in more rural areas.

London stood out as the most well-served region regarding taxi and PHV availability, with 11.9 vehicles per 1,000 people. In stark contrast, areas predominantly categorized as rural reported a significantly lower ratio of 2.2 licensed vehicles per 1,000 people. These findings highlight the challenges individuals in remote areas may face in obtaining readily available transportation services.

Unveiling an intriguing statistic, the City of Wolverhampton emerged as the area with the highest number of licensed vehicles per 1,000 population, reporting an astonishing figure of 85.3. On the other end of the spectrum, several rural regions recorded less than one licensed taxi per 1,000 people. These variations can be attributed to diverse factors, including differing licensing policies and processes employed by local authorities, as well as varying levels of provision.

Current licensing policies can sometimes allow private hire vehicles to be licensed in one particular authority while primarily operating in other regions. This phenomenon has contributed to the observed surge in licensed private hire drivers and vehicles by the City of Wolverhampton Council between 2022 and 2023.

These statistics provide crucial insights into the distribution and accessibility of licensed taxi and PHV services in England. Policymakers, transportation authorities, and industry stakeholders can utilise this data to identify areas in need of improved vehicle provision and to inform policy decisions aimed at enhancing transportation accessibility in both urban and rural regions.