Afterall i'd guess that 99% of the public aren't even aware there is a difference between a Hack and PH. I know when they call our firm, punters ask for a taxi. If we were to follow the letter of the law, should the operator say "Sorry, but we don't have any taxis. However, I can arrange for a private hire vehicle to collect you instead"?

In other parts of the country there are probably different criteria to be met (often stricter) to become a taxi driver, especially in London, where taxi drivers spend years learning "The Knowledge" to get their badge, I think they've a right to be pi$$ed off, that private hire drivers call themselves taxi drivers, when all the private hire topography test involves is drawing a compass with the 4 points, naming a motorway or three which crosses M25, and what direction is Birmingham from London etc...

Just wondering why it is such a contentious issue on here.

Strangely enough I think it's more contentious away from the site.

But part of it is that taxis have officially been around for (depending on what you believe) between 165-400 years, whilst PH only officially since 1976.

Personally I take the view that the thicker the taxi driver the more he is anti PH, and to a degree the other way around.

So to answer your question, the reason is because they are thick.

"Taxi" is a generic term for a small passenger vehicle (as opposed to a bus/coach), i doubt 1 in 1000 members of the public know the difference between Hackney and PH, even fewer CARE after 10 pints of special brew or snakebite, its time the law was changed, if only on the subject of flagdowns, hacks are welcome to sit on ranks, my nearest is 13 miles away.

BTW, neither a "taxi" nor a private hire vehicle can sit in any old street hoping for a fare............

So its only ph that want to be a taxi then, i know the difference and im pretty sure your " 1 in a 1000" is way off the mark.If this was the case why is ph not meant to appear as a taxi ?