This year Mothers Day falls on Sunday March 10th, why not use one of Southampton's white licensed taxis to take your Mum out?  

A trip to The New Forest or even just within the city to a restaurant, theatre or museum is all the better when you travel in style and don't have to worry about driving!

The white licensed taxis of Southampton include larger MPVs, traditional white London cabs and up to the minute saloons, meaning that everyone can be catered for whether you are a wheel chair user, a large group or if it is just the two of you.

To make it even easier, you can hop into a white taxi at one of Southampton's taxi ranks or by hailing one at the roadside.

Valentines Day is a good excuse for a romantic meal or night out in Southampton, and with so many great restaurants, cinemas and theatres you're pretty spoilt for choice. Choosing the designated driver is not so romantic however!

Why not use one of Southampton's white taxi's instead? Easy to find all around the city, Southampton's licensed white taxis can be hailed at the roadside, or found at one of the many taxi ranks situated in these key locations: 

Both sides of the Southampton train station - in Commercial Road side and on theToys R Us side

West Quay - Portland Terrace opposite main entrance to West Quay shopping centre

Portland Terrace, near bus stops by Asda

At the Bargate in High Street by A Plan Insurance

Town Quay outside Red Jet Terminal (IOW)

Terminus Terrace, near to Oxford Street

Above Bar Street, opposite Yates pub

Church Street in Shirley

Portswood High Street

Bitterne - Angel Crescent

Opposite Debenhams in Queensway

Leisureworld cinema entrance

Hannover Buildings outside Santander bank

Bannister Street outside Night Club (night time only)

St. Mary's Road outside British Gas offices (night time only)

London Road (night time only)

The White licensed taxis of Southampton, the perfect solution for a great romantic night out!

Taxi trade representatives held a long awaited and positive meeting with Southampton Council Licensing Officers and Police this week.

Some of the subjects on the agenda were as follows :-

New initiatives planned for when the ships start to come into Southampton.

Definite no U-Turns in London Road with hopefully a weight limit - further discussions to be held with The Highways Department on this matter.

The Southampton Hackney Association's zero tolerance campaign against the illegal touting for work from some private hire's has now been placed as the number one priority with support from Southampton City Council and the police.

The CRB check (now known as DBS) was also discussed - You have to be in this country for five years before you can obtain a licence to become a taxi driver, necessary certificates are also sometimes needed from the Embassy where an individual has come from.

The committee strive to raise the standard of the White Southampton Taxis, and we need to keep this momentum alive...We really do welcome the input from SHA members, some of you are very proactive, yet we are looking for positive contributions from many more of you, so do get in touch. 

We will let you know the details of the Southampton Hackney Association AGM asap.

Instead of always relying on a Satellite Navigation System, we often find that a street map of Southampton is really reliable and useful for your taxi. Especially when roads are closed or traffic is heavy.

Why not spend around £5 on the compact A-Z Atlas of Southampton, available in most bookshops and garages? The A-Z gives you over 7000 street names, industrial estates, selected flats, student halls and other places of interest.

Over 300 A-Z maps and atlases for a whole host of Towns and Cities is available from www.az.co.uk - fantastic information for professional drivers!

The Southampton Hackney Association was established in 2001 to promote and benefit Southampton Hackney Taxi drivers in the city.

We are approved by Southampton City Council with whom we regularly consult, and are affiliated to Associated British Ports. Southampton Hackney Carriage drivers are all licensed, and regulated by Southampton City Council.

Southampton Hackney Association is not a "taxi company", we are an Association for our member drivers. If you would like to join us find out more here and do get in touch  - look forward to hearing from you.

Unfortunately due to the snowy weather a lot of Southampton Taxis are not working today due to the condition of the side roads.

The Southampton Hackney Association suggests that before anybody ventures out, they contact Taxi Companies first to see if they have available cars on the roads in and around the City Centre.

When you require a taxi in Southampton, there are three ways that you can do this -

Phone for one, flag one down, or approach a taxi which is sat on a taxi rank at the roadside

All the licensed white cabs in Southampton are fully insured to pick people up from the roadside. These have an identification licence plate on the back outlined in red.  White saloon car taxis also have a large roof box which clearly identifies them as a taxi, and Multi-Purpose Vehicle taxis including the famous London cab, have a taxi sign on the roof.

It's really important for people to know that if they get into a Southampton Private Hire Vehicle at the roadside, without it having been specifally pre-booked for them the insurance is invalid - leaving them at risk should there be an accident. Private Hire Vehicles do not have a taxi sign on their roof , and can be any colour except white - so it is very easy to tell the difference.

There is to be zero tolerance towards Private Hire's touting for work at the roadside, as it is illegal and dangerous.  Additionally, these vehicles are costing the Southampton Taxi Drivers who are licensed to pick up people from the roadside, a serious loss in income which they simply cannot afford.

Private Hire drivers who commit misdemeanours, such as picking up people without a pre-booking will be reported to the Southampton City Council Licensing Department.

Remember - White Taxis (like the one above) in Southampton are fully insured to pick people up from the roadside and taxi ranks.

Private Hire Vehicles (which are any colour except white) can only pick people up who have pre-booked a ride - otherwise their insurance is invalid leaving their passengers at risk.

We are often asked as a Taxi Association what conditions do Southampton City Council Taxi Licensing Department have regarding medical conditions and tests? 

The answer is when a taxi or private hire driver reaches the age of 45, 50, 55 and 60 years - they have to provide the council with a full medical report. 

When drivers reach the age of 65 years it is annually thereafter.  These regulations are in place to ensure the safety of the public. Do check the Southampton Taxi & Private Hire Licensing noticeboard for more information.  

With regards to the DVLA - when everyone reaches the age of 70 years, driving licences expire and must be renewed every 3 years thereafter. If you wish to retain certain categories on your licence for example B+E, C1 +E, D1 and D1 + E - the so called 'Grandfather Rights' which you might have had are not renewed automatically; if you wish to retain them after the age of 70 years - you must provide a medical certificate. It is advisable to check with the DVLA regarding your licence.

Last Thursday 13th December, the three taxi trade group representatives were invited to a Transport for Southampton evening at the Sea City Museum.

It was an interesting evening, unfortunately the organisers of this function forgot to include the Southampton taxi trade in their presentation.

We offer a seven day/ 24 hour 365 day and night service and we need to be included in the transport framework for this City. Apologies were made by the Chairman of the Transport body for this oversight.

Thank you to all the Southampton taxi drivers for supplying a good service to the Cruise Industry this year - we are looking forward to the calendar of extra cruise ships coming to the port  in 2013!

We also welcome 'Oceans' in Southampton, a new business venture opposite The Bargate Taxi Rank which will have luggage storage facilities for people with suitcases - very useful for holiday makers who might want to take a tour in one of Southampton's white taxis whilst they are waiting for onward travel.

Using one of Southampton's white taxis this Christmas will not only keep you and your friends safe, it means you can have fun and that extra glass of mulled wine!

Taxis are available to hail at the roadside, or you can pick one up at one of the many taxi ranks in the city: 

Both sides of the Southampton train station - in Commercial Road side and on theToys R Us side
West Quay - Portland Terrace opposite main entrance to West Quay shopping centre
Portland Terrace, near bus stops by Asda
At the Bargate in High Street by A Plan Insurance
Town Quay outside Red Jet Terminal (IOW)
Terminus Terrace, near to Oxford Street
Above Bar Street, opposite Yates pub
Church Street in Shirley
Portswood High Street
Bitterne - Angel Crescent
Opposite Debenhams in Queensway
Leisureworld cinema entrance
Hannover Buildings outside Santander bank
Bannister Street outside Night Club (night time only)
St. Mary's Road outside British Gas offices (night time only)
London Road (night time only)

Make your Christmas a White Christmas - use a taxi to get you home!

See you soon!