TaxiPoint launches November 2025 magazine edition with focus on future technology, rural services, and driver safety
- Perry Richardson
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
TaxiPoint Magazine has released its November 2025 edition, packed with national, regional, and industry news as the UK taxi trade navigates new challenges in technology, safety, and regulation.
The latest issue continues the publication’s long-standing commitment to providing balanced, professional reporting for licensed taxi and private hire drivers across the country.
At the heart of this month’s edition is the growing discussion around automation and its impact on the trade. The magazine reports on the UK Government’s confirmation that self-driving taxi projects will start small when they launch from spring 2026. The Department for Transport (DfT) has said early trials of automated passenger services will be “limited in scale” as officials gather data before allowing wider rollouts. The feature examines what this careful approach means for the trade, as global technology firms like Uber and Waymo prepare to deploy autonomous fleets on British roads.
Building on that theme, the magazine also features an in-depth analysis from David Hunter, Chief Executive of the Take Me Group. Following his visit to San Francisco, where Waymo operates the world’s largest robotaxi service, Hunter argues that driverless technology should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a threat. His commentary outlines lessons from the US market and how UK firms can adapt through collaboration and innovation rather than competition.
Beyond automation, this edition turns its attention to the continuing challenges faced by rural taxi operators. In The Forgotten Rural Driver, TaxiPoint examines how shrinking driver numbers, higher operating costs, and limited public transport are pushing many countryside services to breaking point. The feature highlights how some rural residents are struggling to access essential travel, including hospital visits and shopping trips, due to the declining number of available cabs. Licensing inconsistencies between local councils, rising insurance premiums, and recruitment barriers are all identified as major obstacles to maintaining viable rural services.
The November issue also covers developments in London, where the Mayor has ruled out reopening the Trafalgar Square route to taxis from Pall Mall East. According to Transport for London, such a move would create “operational congestion” around Nelson’s Column and lead to longer delays. Further inside, the magazine reports on changes to the Paddington Station taxi rank as part of long-term building works expected to last several years. The story notes the potential for disruption but confirms that the new layout will maintain full taxi access once completed.
Across the regions, TaxiPoint’s reporters provide updates on local enforcement and licensing action. Highlights include a joint operation between Milton Keynes City Council and Thames Valley Police that uncovered multiple vehicle violations, a policy change in Oldham to ease testing pressures by allowing the use of DVSA centres, and a St Albans licensing decision supported by the GMB Union to uphold full Hackney Carriage knowledge test standards for dual badge applicants.
The enforcement section details a series of compliance checks, prosecutions, and safety updates from around the UK. These include Reading’s successful court case against a private hire driver caught illegally plying for hire, and a Bradford operation that resulted in seven vehicle suspensions for non-compliance. Each case, the magazine reports, reinforces the importance of maintaining high professional standards within the licensed trade.
In business coverage, the issue showcases key developments among major industry suppliers. Curb’s new VTS system headlines the section, promoting its “driver-first” technology with offline payment protection and lower card fees. Autocab announces a major US expansion through its partnership with zTrip, set to power 3,600 vehicles across 20 states. Meanwhile, Freenow launches a cashback scheme for business users, and Patons Insurance celebrates the promotion of Ben Smith to Marketing Manager after a decade with the company.
The latest edition captures “an industry in transition”, combining local enforcement updates with major national trends. TaxiPoint remains focused on reporting facts that matter to those working in the industry while continuing to give a voice to the professional taxi community across the UK.
