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Minicabs

Do you know how you're getting home tonight? If you're going out for a night on the town with your friends or catching the late flick at the cinema, you might find that when it's time to go home it's so late that the buses and trains have stopped running. Either that or you sensibly decided not to drive because you knew you were going to be having a couple of drinks.

Before you set out, it's worth planning your journey home so that you know you'll be getting back safely.

Time for a taxi

Taxis and minicabs offer a flexible way for you and your friends to get home late at night. But you should only ever use a licensed taxi/mincab service to stay safe. Using an illegal cab is potentially dangerous and shouldn't be trusted.

Did you know:

• Every month in London, ten women are sexually assaulted by men pretending to be cab drivers. Always use a licensed cab.
• Getting into ANY minicab without having booked it is illegal and immediately invalidates any insurance for the passenger and the driver.
• Only taxis can be hailed in the street. Minicabs must always be booked through a licensed operator.

Here are a few tips for you on using taxis/minicabs:

• Find out the numbers of your local licensed minicab and taxi services and store them on your mobile phone, so that they are always at hand.
• If you're somewhere in London and don't know the numbers of local cab services, text HOME to 60835 and you'll receive a text back with numbers for cab services where you are.
• To make sure a minicab is licensed, PRE BOOK it, ensure the driver knows your name when he turns up and look for the official yellow diamond sticker in the front and rear windscreens of the vehicle.
• When booking a minicab, ask for the driver's name and colour/make of car so that when you get picked up, you know that you're getting into the right licensed cab that you ordered.
• Arrange with your friends who will be sharing a taxi home, as it's always safer to travel in a group and cheaper to split the cab fare between you.
• Never let your friends get into an illegal cab, as the driver could be a sexual attacker.

Marshalled Taxi Ranks and Kiosks

To help you get home by taxi or private minicab hire late at night there are several marshalled taxi ranks and private hire pick up points in Kingston. Ask a marshal or go to one of the booking kiosks to book a ride home.

1. Clarence Street (outside Oceana)
   Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 10:30pm and 3:30am
2. Clarence Street/Thames Street (by McClusky's/John Lewis)
   Every evening between 10:30pm and 5:30am.
3. St. James' Road (by The Works)
   Every evening between 10:30pm and 5:30am.
4. Kingston Train Station Forecourt
   Every evening between 10:30pm and 5:30am.

Remember to always make sure it's a licensed operator you're booking from at one of these marshalled ranks.