Driving Change: Female-Only Taxi Service Expands to Meet Safety Demand
A Milton Keynes taxi service that exclusively employs female drivers is planning to expand into Northampton, Bedford, and Oxford to provide a safer travel option for passengers.
Women’s Wheelz Taxis, launched in December by former driving instructors Sharon Gorham and Chelsea Booth, emerged directly from personal encounters and widespread anecdotal evidence of uncomfortable experiences within the local transport sector. The founders cited hearing numerous “horror stories” regarding women’s safety as a primary catalyst for creating a dedicated, secure alternative.
Founders’ Personal Motivation and Service Impact
The company currently operates with three drivers and has quickly become a vital resource, frequently used by schoolchildren, hospital patients, and people with disabilities—demographics often cited as requiring heightened travel security and patience.
Co-founder Sharon Gorham explained her own impetus was a “nervous” experience with a male driver who was “racing into the roundabouts” and singing love songs, an incident that underscored a pervasive sense of vulnerability. She believes that by speaking out, “people are going to realise that actually there is a little bit of a problem out there and maybe it’s time things changed.” Her professional background as a driving instructor provides the venture with immediate operational credibility and expertise in vehicle safety and defensive driving.
Context: A documented safety concern in Milton Keynes
The venture comes amid growing and documented concerns over passenger safety. In 2024, Councillor Andy Carr noted that Milton Keynes City Council received a “high proportion” of complaints regarding “inappropriate behaviour or language by taxi drivers towards female passengers.” This official acknowledgment from local government highlights the systemic nature of the issue the service aims to address.
In response, the council has encouraged all taxi drivers in the city to become White Ribbon ambassadors and to display White Ribbon stickers in their vehicles as a show of solidarity against violence towards women. A council spokesperson confirmed they are “proud” to be a White Ribbon accredited organisation and stated that “drivers licensed in Milton Keynes must meet strict standards and we run regular undercover operations to monitor compliance,” demonstrating institutional efforts alongside private initiatives.
Jane Whild of the Fawcett Society, a leading national charity campaigning for gender equality, called the new service “great news” in the face of the “urgent problem” of violence against women and girls. This endorsement from a respected, expert third-party organization significantly bolsters the service’s authority and trustworthiness on the issue.
An Inclusive Approach and Industry Recognition
While the service focuses on female safety, co-founder Chelsea Booth noted they also welcome male passengers who are unhappy with general driving standards. “I’ve had men comment to me about the driving standards of some of the taxis that they’ve been in and that they would prefer to be driven by us,” she said. This positions the service not just as a safety-specific niche, but as a provider of high-quality, professional driving.
This sentiment was echoed by Vicky West, who runs a similar firm in Dorset. Her statement that she is “all for the female drivers getting their businesses up and running and giving ladies a chance to feel safer” provides cross-regional validation and shows a growing network of operators addressing the same market need, enhancing the sector’s overall perceived legitimacy.
Growth Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite clear demand and supportive feedback, the founders admitted that finding enough new female drivers remains one of their biggest challenges as they look to grow. Recruiting qualified, vetted drivers who align with the service’s ethos is a critical operational hurdle for scaling the business model.
The planned expansion into Northampton, Bedford, and Oxford represents a strategic response to a regional safety gap. By extending their model, Women’s Wheelz Taxis aims to replicate their Milton Keynes success in neighboring areas where similar concerns about passenger treatment and driving standards likely exist, offering a proven, community-focused solution.
Image Credit: www.phtm.co.uk
