What is the ‘Measured Mile’ for taxi drivers and how do Local Authorities use it?
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 13
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 17
The ‘measured mile’ refers to a precisely determined one‑mile route used to test the accuracy of a taxi’s taximeter. During compliance checks, an authorised officer travels with the driver over this route to confirm that the fare corresponds exactly with the metre reading for distance and time at that exact measurement. The test also includes a basic safety assessment to ensure the vehicle is safe to drive along the measured mile.
This procedure forms part of local authority licensing regimes. In some authorities it is scheduled annually, such as during National Licensing Week, when each hackney carriage undergoes inspection over the measured mile. Any taxi found with an inaccurate or tampered metre can have it recalibrated or face compliance action.
More formal procedures exist in places like New York City, where the Taxi and Limousine Commission mandates that every taximeter must be tested over a measured mile at least once every twelve months. Testing is required when a metre is newly installed, updated, or when vehicle modifications affect metre readings. Failure to comply may result in fines or licence suspension.
Some local policies specify testing intervals based on a vehicle’s age. For example, one council exempts vehicles less than one month old or with fewer than 1,500 recorded miles, but mandates annual metre accuracy checks for vehicles up to their third anniversary, with more frequent checks thereafter.
Local authorities also have a duty to ensure roadworthiness during these tests. They must confirm that vehicle safety features are intact before allowing a vehicle to be driven along the measured mile. This may include a ‘key safety features test’ as part of the metre evaluation process.
