Essential equipment for taxi drivers

A taxi is obliged to have the following equipment: a sign on the roof, a visible taxi meter displaying the price of the journey, a plaque giving certain information such as the vehicle registration number, a taxi operating license.

Essential equipment: the taxi meter

The taxi meter is a must. Its function is to calculate the price per kilometer, in Paris this is applicable in accordance with the tariffs A, B and C.

Taxi meters in further detail

There are three types of taxi meter in Paris taxis, each corresponding to type of taxi driver using them according to the legal operating status each has been given. The taxi meter is yellow for a company employee, red for a rental operator and blue for an artisan. This meter gives not only the applicable fare and price of the journey but also the time when the driver will finish their shift. This essential piece of kit should be fixed to the visible, central part of the dashboard.

The different applicable tariffs

• Tariff A covers journeys made between 10am and 5pm.
• Tariff B covers the rest of the day as well as Sundays and bank holidays from 7am until midnight.
• Tariff C is the night tariff for journeys made between midnight and 7am

It therefore becomes clear why the taxi meter is essential equipment for taxi drivers as the cost of the fare needs to be continual calculated on the go in accordance with these timeslots. It becomes even more complex when factoring in other zones of Paris, the airports for example, as here the tariff B replaces the tariff A and the tariff C replaces the tariff B. There has also been debate about varying the rates in accordance to weather conditions. In icy or snowy conditions taxi drivers may need to use other essential taxi accessories that would allow them to deal with extreme conditions. The argument being that if it is the responsibility of the taxi drivers to equip themselves with specialist gear out of their own pockets then shouldn’t the set rate for fares be increased?

Essential taxi equipment: the taxi light

This taxi light, which is synonymous with the image of a taxi, displaying a green or red colour to indicate if the taxi is free or already taken, makes up part of the essential taxi gear kit. However if the light is showing green this does not necessarily mean that the taxi driver will stop for a customer. In certain cases the driver won’t pick up a client, for example if the driver has finished his shift. A taxi light, otherwise known as a taxi roof sign, should also show the region where the taxi is based and the tariff applicable at the present moment.

Interior taxi equipment: display card

This small plaque is another indispensable part of a taxi driver’s equipment. It indicates the registration number of the vehicle as well as information concerning the price of taxi fares and any foreseeable supplementary costs (e.g. luggage, pets, etc.) This card should also show the address of the local police station. In most cases this information is given in two languages, most commonly French and English.

Essential taxi equipment: taxi license

The taxi license is obligatory and must be held at all times by the taxi driver. Each taxi driver’s unique card number will correspond to an engraved plaque on the right hand side of the taxi’s exterior.

It is generally advised that passengers check all the above mentioned equipment is in place and operational when choosing a taxi. With taxi meters in place and fully licensed drivers displaying their credentials, a customer can rest assured that they won’t be taken on ‘the scenic route’.

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