I rarely use a taxi so would like to ask a question....I was over to Newcastle and Darlington for a course. I had to get a taxi from the train to the hotel....when a person is on their own or with a friend....does the driver expect you to sit up front or do you sit in the back unless there is a large party and someone NEEDS to sit up front? I ask because I once opened the front door and got in and the driver looked at me quite oddly...since then I always sit in the back unless I am with several people.

Ta

I always sit in the back and always have.  The only time one of us sits in the front is if there are more people in the party than can fit in the back.

If it's a private hire taxi, like a normal car, then sit in the front. If it's the black cab/hackney type then sit in the back :-)

always sit in the back of a taxi .

> If it's a private hire taxi, like a normal car, then sit in the front. If it's the black cab/hackney type then sit in the back :-)

my formula as well. also in the back for the eurobus type

always sit in the back, i had a nasty experience some 20 years ago when i sat in the front.
The driver tried to chat me up and get me to go back to his flat,i reported him afterwards but don't know what happened after that .

I always sit in the back HOWEVER do bare in mind child locks in cars on back doors... :(  Something rare but I have heard it happen :(

When I am not on crutches, I sit in the back.  When I am on crutches, I sit in the front.  Just cant get a straight leg to fit in the back, but I can in the front.  There was a rash of assaults on cab drivers here about a year back, on cabbie was slicied right across the throat, and one died from the attack.  Since then, I think they are more nervous if you sit in the front then we are about doing it. 

Crespin, that is horrific!!!
the poor men / women are only trying to earn a living!
What is this world coming to?!? It truly does frighten me what'll be 'the norm' when my daughter is in her adulthood :-(

I never get in a black cab - i always book my taxi and with the same company every time. If i'm alone i sit in the front, but if with my partner and / or daughter i sit in the back. I'm comfortable to sit in the front as i've been using the same firm for 5 yrs and can quite easily talk to all of their 17 drivers!

Ice Queen - this is one of the reasons as to why i always use a prebooked well known local firm. Nothing against black cabs, but i've heard too many horror stories abot young girls, and don't want to be a statistic

I rarely take a taxi in my home town but at Uni I use them alot and I only have 3 companies I will use.  Either the city ones (very highly regarded and recommened by the uni main campus) another which is recommended by the school of Management and do special fixed rate for students between main campus and SoM on a deal with them and one other as my back up which a friend who lives their has always used. 

Shame you have to be so careful :( Unless I'm traveling with a friend I will not relax and hold onto all my stuff...like a todler to a comfort blanket!

I also think you need to make sure you are getting into a licenced cab and not a mini cab. We don't have mini cab's around here, also worth noting the drivers ID number, they should be visible in the front of the car.

As a young woman i always sat in the back for safety but as an old bird i get in the front.I always tell my girls to get in the back too.My son who was made redundant in january is going to take up taxiing and says that he will always make sure women go to the back as he has been told that some women would threaten to accuse the drivers of assault rather than pay the fare.Unfortunately that's the kind of world we're in at the moment.

i always sit in the back :)

I always sit in the back.

I asked a taxi driver one day why he wasnt wearing his seatbelt. Apparently taxi drivers are permitted by law to drive without a seatbelt due to the risk that someone sat in the back could use it to strangle the driver. Sadly i suspect this has happebned before.

I knew they didn't have to wear a seatbelt,but a taxi driver told me it was because they had to get in and out of the car so often,it made it easier to do so.Isn't it awful if it's the other reason.I know the firm my son will be working for have panic buttons in the cars.If need be the other drivers will all make for the driver in trouble and help him.Getting in the back also keeps things on a business footing,and helps keep in mind that you are buying a service.