I've always seen the hackney black cab trade as being the safest part of transport but know relised its not because getting a pre-booked private hire is more safe than getting into a hackney carriage from a rank or flagging one down

Because if you get a pre-booked private hire your details are logged on the office data and your
pick up address
Drop off address
Name
Time of pick up
Are taken by the booking office so if something happens to you and you took a private hire the police can follow your steps and get evidence but whereas hackney carriage no details are required so it'll be hard to track down your steps.
So people don't take a licensed taxi but use a private hire instead and also was in london last night and looked at the hackney drivers on the airport all looked scruffy in t shirts, hoodies but saw the minicabs drivers who impressed me verry much as there appearance was smart, all in tie suits, blutooth headsets.
So now after a long time driving hackney relised the ph are faar better off than us as they appear proffessional but us are Just named as being professional cab drivers but arnt really