Most taxi ranks do the most business after the sun goes down. Nights on the town are a huge source of income for the modern cabbie, so driving post-dusk is one of those necessities.

However, the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that traffic death rates are three times higher at night than they are during the day, so those taxi drivers looking to burn the midnight oil must be cautious and prioritise their safety above extra revenue. 

This is especially true at the weekends, which are typically more dangerous thanks to an increased rate of drink drivers. Although the number of deaths caused by drink drivers has fallen in the UK, figures from the Department for Transport show that around 230 people were killed by intoxicated motorists in 2012.

Here are a few tips for late night taxi drivers to ensure the safety of themselves and of others.

Before the Shift Starts

Safety needs to be implemented even before you start your night shift. Here are a some things you should do before you get to work:

Wipe down mirrors and windows: Visibility at night is essential to aid hazard perception, so wipe down transparent surfaces with a micro-fibre cloth or even a newspaper to remove any residue that could restrict your sight.

Pack an emergency card: In the event of a bad crash, an emergency card helps paramedics identify your name, date of birth, allergies and an emergency contact number.

Familiarise yourself with the fare structure: Have a copy of the fare structure on your person to help placate a customer who thinks you’ve overcharged them.

Fit CCTV cameras: CCTV can keep track of any problems that may occur inside the vehicle at any time, and therefore help to reduce your insurance premiums.

Road Safety

Since visibility is scarce in the darkness of the early hours, you’ll need to ensure you drive extra safe to prevent any accidents:

Be alert: Tiredness is one of the main causes of traffic accidents at night, so if you find yourself flagging on your shift, take a break between customers and have a light snack. If you’re really tired, alert your control centre that you’re not fit to drive. Safety must come first, especially when you’re responsible for others.

Wear appropriate lenses: If you require glasses to drive, use prescription lenses with an anti-reflective coating to improve night-time vision.

Dim your instrument panel: Reducing the glare of your instrument panel and dash lights vastly improves your ability to see out of the windscreen.

Don’t speed: Not only is this illegal, but it’s more dangerous at night. Dipped headlights illuminate 160-250 feet ahead of your vehicle, but at 60 mph, it takes 200 feet to stop, so be extra careful on those country roads.

Personal Safety

The media tends to publicise the risk of safety to passengers in taxis, but drivers need to look after themselves too:

Restrict passenger access to the front: If you’re in a saloon car, be cautious as to who you let in the front. You should also install a protective screen between the front and the back.

Keep cash in a secure box: Make sure passengers don’t see where you store your money. If you can, make stops back to the rank to drop off excess money to keep it secure.

Don’t run after “bilkers”: “Bilking” - exiting a cab without paying the fare - is a criminal offence. Don’t risk your own safety running out after a fare hopper; instead, contact the police about the incident.

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