London’s iconic black cabs and private hire vehicles are at the center of a growing regulatory battle. A long-standing practice known as “cross-border hiring” is under intense scrutiny, with Transport for London (TfL) leading calls for a legislative change to close a loophole it says compromises safety, fairness, and the city’s ability to manage its transport ecosystem. The issue, which allows drivers licensed outside the capital to operate within London, has become a flashpoint in discussions about the future of urban mobility in the UK.
Understanding the Cross-Border Loophole
In the UK, private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers and operators are licensed by local authorities, not on a national basis. This system permits a driver licensed by, for example, a council in Essex or Surrey to accept a booking that originates
Image Credit: www.taxi-point.co.uk
