Argentina Taxi

History

In 1956, Jeep and Pick-up Jeep were produced and used as a taxi. Three years later Farina saloon car, called a ‘Di Tella 1500′ was ready for use as a taxi. Taxi drivers loved the ‘1500′ car thanks to its strength and durability. At present, Ford Motor Co. is building a new fleet of taxis which run on natural gas in order to reduce air pollution in Argentina.

The Taxi's

There are two main types of taxi in Argentina; regular urban taxis that you can hail in the street and minicab radio taxis that you must book by phone or at their central booking booth. Argentine taxis are all black except the roof that is painted in yellow. A sign of red flag light written “libre” (free) shows its availability. The city licenses of taxis are supposed to appear on the both sides of front doors and agency number on the front bumper.

The Drivers

License is required for the taxi drivers. The official information including name, photo and license number are expected to be clearly displayed to customers. The drivers sometimes ignore the hailing passengers as they are going straight to passengers who catching the taxis through radio equipped in the cabs.

Australia Taxi

History

In the early twentieth century, Horse – drawn taxi was the main transportation for Australia, especially in Queensland and Brisbane. Until the early 1920s, British and American cars were brought into Australia, and were later adapted to use in the Australian taxicabs business to the present day.

The Taxi's

Most of the Australian Taxis were manufactured by the British and American motor companies, especially General Motors Corporation, Ford and Chrysler. The regular taxis are sedan or station-wagon, which are capable to carrying four or five passengers. The taxis are usually painted in white color.

The Drivers

In Australia, there are slightly different rules and laws about how to become a taxi driver, depend on each state’s individual laws and regulations. However, the basic requirements are be at least twenty years old, not have a serious criminal or traffic record, hold an unrestricted NSW Driver’s Licence for at least 12 months and must have undergone some training to increase their driving ability.

Brazil Taxi

History

In 1976 in Curitiba, a city in Brazil, appeared the first Brazilian service of radio-call (radio-taxi). In 1980, all taxis in Brazil used alcohol extracted from sugar cane instead of diesel. Nowadays, most taxis use methane gas which is even cheaper than gasoline and all taxis are regulated by the city administration.

The Taxi's

The majority taxis in Brazil are in white with a text “Taxi” on the top of the roof. Sao Paulo aggregates the biggest number of taxis in Brazil as much as 33000 and 4000 out of those are taxis of fleets which owned by companies.

The Drivers

In Rio de Janeiro, taxi drivers need a license which costs 60000 reals (Brazilian currency) and in Sao Paulo, the price ranges from 35000 to 45000 reals and can reach above 120000 reals. Taxi drivers can opt to work as a taxi fleet driver if they can’t afford the license fee.

China Taxi

History

Taxicab service in China has grown continuously since the end of the Second World War, especially in the major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Currently, there are over 67,000 legitimate cabs and 72,000 illegal taxis (commonly known as “black car”) in Beijing only. A Beijing legitimate taxi must equip with license plate starts with “Beijing B”, if not then there is no doubt that the cab is a black car. In China, a Taxi driver may refuse to go to some destination, no matter the distance. However, taxi’s fare in China is considered very cheap.

The Taxi's

Almost every car which is adapted to use as a taxicab in China is manufactured by Chinese car manufacturer such as Chery, Geely, Great Wall Motor, Nanjing, Hafei, Zhongxing and Brilliance China. Taxicabs in China are painted in many colors such as green, blue and red, but all of them have a long white stripe alongside its body.

The Drivers

According to the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China, a driver who needs to become taxi driver in China must past some driving tests, some physical tests and traffic – knowledge test. Additionally, a would - be cabby also must pass some English language tests.

England Taxi

History

In the early 17th century, hackney carriages began providing taxicab service and the number of carriages was set at 50. In 1636, the owner of four hackney carriages established the first taxicab stand in The Strand, a street in the City of Westminster. At the end of the 19th century, battery-operated taxis appeared shortly but in 1903, the modern taxicab service took off with the appearance of petrol-powered taxis. In 1907 meters were first introduced to calculate the fare and were set at 8d for the first mile.

The Taxi's

There are two types of taxicabs in England, London taxicab or “black cab” and licenses private hire or “minicab” services. Austin FX4 is always used as the classic London Black Cab and all of them are painted with black color. Private hire car or “minicab” is a car with a driver available for hire only on a pre-booked basis, for example, by telephone, internet, or fax. Minicab in England is painted in many colors.

The Drivers

In England, The Public Carriage Office (PCO) is the body responsible for licensing taxicabs within Greater London. Would - be cabbies must complete some driving tests to obtain a taxi – driving license and The taxicab driver is required to be able to decide routes immediately in response to a passenger’s request or traffic conditions rather than stopping to look at a map or ask a controller by radio.

Germany Taxi

History



In German, appeared an invention of modern taximeter which was named after its inventor Baron von Thurn und Taxis. It was first used in Berlin before spreading out in several countries in the world. Due to a recent survey, Mercedes-Benz has lost its popularity, taxis rank is headed by Volkswagen, Opel and Mazda.

The Taxi's



In Germany, taxicabs are a light, pale yellow/beige (ivory-colored) and a taxi sign on the roof. It was not before November 2005 that in some jurisdictions the color of German cabs has not been compulsory anymore (They were black before 1971). Mercedes-Benz E-Class is mostly used as taxis followed by other mainly German brands. Taxicabs are either sedans, station wagons, or MPVs that Mercedes-Benz B-Class, and Mercedes-Benz V-Class are common, while station wagon taxis are usually Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The Drivers



German Taxi drivers are supposed to realize on driving foreigners, otherwise they can be fined and jailed for assisting illegal migrants. They had better check their foreign customers’ passports or call the Bundesgrenzschutz (German border patrol).







Holland Taxi



History



In the past, taxicab operations in Holland was tightly controlled by a body of rules determining the number of companies, the size of the vehicle fleet and the number of drivers to be admitted per province, so the shortage of taxicabs in Holland was inevitably happened. But as taxicab operations has rapidly played a greater role in public transportation, The Dutch Minister of Transport therefore introduced a deregulated licensing system in 2001 to encourage a larger and more diversified range of taxicab operations in the Netherlands.

The Taxi's



In the Netherlands, taxicabs are easily identified as they have signs and blue licence plates on their roofs. Most cars which are used in taxicab operations in the Netherlands are produced by European car manufacturer such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Citroen and Peugeot. All taxicabs are metered and start with a flat rate (around 3.00 Euro), then cost 1.80 Euro per kilometer.

The Drivers



As the result of The Taxicab Deregulation policy which was introduced in 2001, the selecting - process of Dutch taxi driver is now less restricted. The basic qualifications and abilities of a Dutch cabby is must be at least 18 years old and has undergone a test of Land traffic knowledge, physical tests and driving tests on the road.







Hong Kong Taxi



History



Date back to the 19th century, sedan chairs were the only mean of public transportation in Hong Kong. Later in 1870, the rickshaw was imported from Japan and has become a popular form of public transport for many years. However, rickshaws’ popularity waned after World War II. In 1941, Wu zung, the earliest pioneer of the modern taxi owned 40 taxis but his operation was suspended during the Japanese occupying period. Hong Kong’s taxi service was first officially recorded by the government in 1947 with 329 cars and by 1960 the number of taxi increased to 1,026 cars and 10,000 by 1980.

The Taxi's



At first, European cars were used as taxi in Hong Kong but they were slowly replaced by Japanese cars since the 1970. Today, most taxis in Hong Kong are Toyota Comfort (YXS10), the minority being Nissan Cedric (Y31) saloons, and Australian Ford Falcon estate cars. Hong Kong’s taxis are painted with red, white – green and white – blue.

The Drivers



The Transport Department of Hong Kong has issued “The Driving Test of Commercial Vehicles” for selecting the suitable commercial driver including taxi driver. Who can be a taxi driver in Hong Kong must not less than 21 years old and held a full driving license for private car for more than 3 years. A driver who has any physical disabilities is prohibited from this occupation.







 

India Taxi

History

The history of the Indian taxi has begun since the early twentieth century, when India was governed by the British rule. The Indian taxis are very cheap, friendly, and are available direct from a Taxi Company or on the street. Most taxis do not have a fare-meter installed; the fare is decided by bargaining between the driver and the customer.

The Taxi's

Almost all taxicabs in India are Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador cars which were brought in to the country from the British. Most of the Indian taxis are painted with a yellow-black livery, and also paint many signs and slogans such as God is Great across the back and sides of the cars. Most of the cabs do not have any air conditioning system.

The Drivers



In India, who need to acquire taxi driving license must be at least 18 years old. An Applicant must submit a request to the transport Department of India and complete a Colors Blindness Test, Learner Test and Driving Test on Vehicle before able to receive Light Motor Vehicle License (LMV), which is the license of the taxi driver.







Indonesia Taxi



History



Since the early 1970s, taxicabs began to be popular in Indonesia, especially in the capital Jakarta and the resort town of Bali. In recent year, the Indonesian government has licensed more taxi firms in the country, in order to increase the mean of public transportation. There are several reputable taxi companies in Indonesia; they were recognized by their distinct color such as black for Silver Bird, white for Express, green for Gamya and blue for Blue Bird, Steady Safe and Kosti Jaya. Each of Taxi Company has different cars and service standard.

The Taxi's



From mid 1970s to late 1980s, cars like Datsun 220C, Holden Torana, and Toyota Corona were used in the Indonesian taxi service. Most of them were painted with various colors although the majority is yellow. But today, almost modern taxicabs in Indonesia are Toyota Limo and Soluna, Hyundai Excel, and Kia Rio and most of them are colored with light blue.

The Drivers



A driver who needs to obtain an Indonesian driving license card must go to the Department of Motor Vehicles in Jakarta, which is responsible for issuing taxi driver’s licenses for the Indonesian residents. An applicant must prove their qualifications and test some driving abilities.







Japan Taxi



History

As one of the most produced – car country in the world, Japan is considered one of the most occupying – taxis country in the world. Taxicab is famous in Japan so the Japan’s taxi industry has continuously increased its size for more than 50 years. Taxicabs are an indispensable means of transportation in Japan, especially in the major cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima. Moreover, The Taxicab Regulation in Japan, which is introduced in 2002, has stimulated the number of taxi on the Japanese road.

The Taxi's



Almost taxicab which is used in Japan is made by their own car manufacturer such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda, and perhaps Toyota Crown Comfort is the most popular choice for using as a taxicab. Taxicabs in Japan are painted with different colors such as white, orange and yellow and most of them are also painted with a long blue stripe along its body.

The Drivers



The Taxicab Regulation in Japan which was introduced in 2002 has contained many orders and regulations concern taxi driver’s abilities and qualifications. For examples, a would be cabby must be Japanese citizen and hold driving license with clear record. Additionally, a driver must past some driving tests, some physical tests and also some English language tests.







Mexico Taxi



History



The origin of modern taxicabs in Mexico started in 1970, when the government took new measures in order to give an affordable, cheap and small taxi transport to Mexican people after years of big and expensive cars which were used through the 50’s and 60’s. Taxicabs are popular in Mexico City with some sources estimating the total number of registered taxi to be 80,000, making it the biggest taxicabs fleet in the world. Additionally, Mexican Taxicabs’ fares are considered very low compared to that in more economically developed countries with about 90% lower.

The Taxi's

The Volkswagen Sedán was the first type of car which was selected to serve as taxicabs in Mexico but in the late 70’s, other automobiles such as the Nissan Tsuru and the Datsun 160J were also added in taxicabs operation. Firstly, they were colored with yellow panels and white roofs but in the early 90’s, government decided to change its color to green, in order to give an impression of “ecologic transport”. However, in 2003, the government has changed taxicabs’ color again to a full white colored car with a red stripe on both sides of the panels.

The Drivers



In Mexico, obtaining a driving license is hard and takes high cost. Every would - be cabby must be undergone many tastes such as traffic knowledge tests, physical tests and driving tests on the road. These difficulties have significantly confined the number of taxis on the road. But due to the increasing demand of public taxicabs, there are many illegal ‘pirata’ taxis which are considered high risk for passengers because the lack of background checks for drivers.







Oman Taxi



History



In Oman, taxicab operation is somewhat different from other country. Because of Oman contains only 3,204,897 of population and also has a few a city, then taxicab in Oman has played less important role in public transportation than personal vehicles, buses and camels. Taxicabs in Oman aren’t installed meter and fare is generally decided by bargaining with the driver and passenger. There are two types of taxi in Oman such as “shared” and “engaged” taxi. In an engaged taxi, the driver can not take any more passenger but in a shared taxi, the driver will usually get more passengers who need to go along the same way.

The Taxi's



The major taxicabs in Oman are usually 12-seater Toyota vans which able to carry many passengers to the same destination in one trip and this type of cars are also usually used in “shared” taxi operation. Most taxicabs in Oman are usually yellow models of Toyota or Nissan.

The Drivers



Taxi drivers in Oman are well known for their rough driving. Most of the cars accidents which occur in Oman’s roads are caused by crazy taxi drivers. Therefore passengers have to make sure about the taxi which they’re going to engage, trying to choose the legal taxi which its driver was approved the driving ability by the authority.







Russia Taxi



History



In the past, Russian taxicabs were relatively few even in Moscow. But since many cars were allowed to be use as a taxi, gypsy-cabs, the private motorists, were also added to the category and this substantially increased the number of Russian cab. The official Russian taxicabs are identified by their yellow livery and relatively few in Moscow and the fare depend on the agreement between driver and passenger.

The Taxi's



Most of the taxicab in Russia is Lada, a relatively small car which able to endure the extremely cold weather of Russia. Lada cars were produced by a Russian car manufacturer located in the city of Togliatti. The Russian taxicabs are usually painted in white or yellow and sometimes black.

The Drivers



A risk of crime in picking up a stranger into a car in Russia is prevailed and occurred every day, and then the ability to handle an unpredictable situation is really needed for The Russian taxi driver. The Russian taxi driver can choose to pick up any passenger he wants and able to deny to go to risky destinations. 







Singapore Taxi



History



History of taxi in Singapore slowly started after World War II. Since the mid of the twentieth century, Singapore has rapidly increased the amount of taxis in the city. Because its fare is considered relatively low compared to those in most cities in developed countries, taxi has become the most popular form of public transport in the compact city state of Singapore. Currently, there is a total fleet of 22,305 taxis operated by seven taxi companies and independent drivers.

The Taxi's



In 1960, Mercedes Benz 220S Ponton was first used as a taxi in Singapore and followed by Austin Cambridge A60. Until the early 1980s, Opel Rekord D, Peugeot 504, Morris Marina and Volga Gaz 24 were also adapted to use for this commercial vehicles. Later in the mid of 1980, the newer and cheaper cars like Toyota Crown, Nissan Cedric and Isuzu Florian were slowly replaced the older cars.

The Drivers

 

According to the Singaporean Taxi Academy, a driver who needs to become taxi driver in Singapore must occupy basic abilities and qualifications as follows, must be a Singapore citizen, must be at least 30 years of age, must have valid class 3 driving license, able to converse and write basic English and have at least 1 year’s driving experience with a clean driving record.







South Africa Taxi



History



South African Taxi’s history started at the time when South Africa was still occupied by United Kingdom in the early twentieth century. At that time, many European cars were brought into Cape Town and Johannesburg to serve British communities which just had been colonized. Later, cars are widely used by both white and black people, and finally adopted to use as taxi until today.

The Taxi's



Taxis are popular in South Africa and in fact they account for 65% of public transport. Most of the taxicabs in South Africa had been brought into the country from Europe such England, Italy and German and European cars such as Austin, Rover and Volkswagen are popularly used as a taxicab in South Africa. The South African taxis are usually painted in yellow with a black strip stretch along its body.

The Drivers



Drivers who need South African driving License must prove their abilities before receiving one. They must send the request to the Road Traffic Management Corporation of South Africa and pass Colors Blindness Test, Learner Test and Driving Test.







South Korea Taxi



History



There is an extensive taxi system in South Korea, especially in some major cities such as Seoul and Busan. In Seoul only, there are more than 2 thousand corporate taxis and 4 thousand ordinary taxis are in service, and in whole of the country there are more than 8 or 9 thousand taxis are in operation. South Korean taxis are installed meters and its fares start at 1,500 or 1,900 South Korean won. The South Korean taxi’s fare is considered much cheaper than in major cities in Europe and North America.

The Taxi's

South Korea has three types of taxis in service such as an “ordinary” taxi, a “model” taxi, which is colored black and is bigger and much more expensive and a “taxi for the handicapped” which is a yellow painted van. In fact, all Korean taxicabs are Korean car models. In 1970s - 1980s, most cars in taxi service are three Hyundai models such as Hyundai Pony, Hyundai Presto and Hyundai Stellar. But today, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Magentis are the most popular cars in South Korean taxi operation.

The Drivers



Drivers who need to obtain South Korean driving License must prove their qualifications and abilities before receiving one. An applicant must submit his request to The Authority of Public Transportation and undergo a test of Land traffic knowledge, physical tests and driving tests on the road.







Taiwan Taxi



History



Crimes committed by taxi drivers have been a threat to people especially females in Taiwan, taxis dispatch have been used to solve the problem. Once you call a taxi dispatch center, you will be given a taxi number to identify the vehicle. The taxis will be monitoring from the headquarters using radio while they are on the move. Around 8,000 automobiles equipped for LPG have been brought to use as taxis in order to reduce the use of liquefied petroleum gas.

The Taxi's



Taxicabs in Taiwan are yellow and have built-in meter with fares based on distance but typically NT$70 charged for the first 1.5km and if you hail a taxi during 11 pm – 6 am, a 20% surcharge is added to fares, while in smaller towns, taxis have their own fixed rates. Four is a maximum of people can ride in one cab. The badge and taxi driver identification are displayed inside and the license number marked on the outside Relative to American taxicabs, Taiwanese cabs are inexpensive.

The Drivers



Taxi drivers in Taiwan need to be at least 20 years old and have occupational driver licenses according to the Road Traffic Security Rules. The drivers need to pass annual physical examinations if they reach 60 years old and want to continue to driver taxis. They are required to wear a uniform and abide by a three-strike policy and need to give the receipt if asked. Taiwanese cab drivers are considered friendly towards foreigners even if they are strictly forbidden from taking tips. However, their common habits of chewing betel nut and political discussing will be banned.







Thailand Taxi



History



The history of Thai Taxi has begun in 1960 – 1961, when small three – wheel cars which are called Tuk – Tuk in Thai were brought in to service for public transportation. Today most of Thai taxi use Japanese cars such as Toyota and Honda, and all of them are painted with different colors. Most of Thai taxis are operating mainly the in Bangkok area.

The Taxi's



Most of Thai taxis were manufactured by the Japanese motor company and Toyota is the main brand of Thai taxi. Thai taxis are painted in different colors such like yellow – green, blue – red, orange, pink and more.

The Drivers



In Thailand, who need to become a taxi driver must acquire driving license of public transportation. An applicant must submit his request to The Department of Land Transport of Thailand, and undergo a test of Land traffic knowledge, physical tests and driving tests on the road.







USA Taxi



History

Not long after cars had been invented and manufactured for commercial use, the Americans adopted cars to use as taxicabs in many states especially in the big cities such as New York, Los Angelis and Chicago. Taxi cars are always owned by companies where the drivers act as employees. The numbers of American taxi are still increasing rapidly but many US cities are trying to control the number with a licensing scheme.

The Taxi's



Most of the American taxis were manufactured by their own motor company like General Motors Corporation, Ford and Chrysler. The American taxis are painted in yellow, orange white or black depending on the state, and the general taxis are sedan or station-wagon.

The Drivers



There are some slightly different rules and laws between different states about how to become a taxi driver in America. In New York City for example, a driver must hold a driving license which equivalent to a New York state class A, B, C or E before submitting the request and the driver also must attend taxi school to increase the driving ability.