The new law now requires all public and private hire taxis to have an approved printer receipt system installed , or have at least booked a date for installation . Those that fail to do so risk legal action and MOT failure .

Previously , taking a taxi may have carried an element of mistrust regarding the final fare price . The introduction of taximeters in most cases provides an assurance that passengers will be charged fairly for the distance travelled , though there are still instances when prices can be pre-agreed or presented off-the-cuff by drivers . A more transparent system is needed , particularly for private vehicles that tend to operate without using a taximeter system .

It is of paramount importance for example , that business employees receive clearly printed receipts for expenses purposes . In the current system , many taxi operators work off a handwritten receipt , which leaves room for error or illegibility with handwriting . Additionally , with the introduction of contactless payment facilities in many major city taxis , legible , printed receipts will help to provide assurance to passengers at a time of transition for the taxi industry . The older generation , in particular , still value the credibility of printed confirmation , and these receipts help to assure customers that the correct amount has been paid .

Northern Ireland has been the first country to implement the new legislation . As a decision that affects the whole nation , there is a huge scale of opportunity for electrical contractors to install these new compact printers . There ’ s also talk of expanding this legislation further afield , with London rumored to be the next city to embrace the change . This would also be a vast opportunity , with 242,000 public and private hire cabs currently operating in the capital according to government figures .

These new printers must be compatible with taximeter systems . Electrical engineers must therefore be wary of systems that are already configured to work with mobile printers , and those that must be adapted in physical and software terms to comply with the new legislation . In fact , many of the big taximeter producers , such as Autocab and Viking , offer products already compatible with the new rules . However some older vehicles may need to be adapted to fit with a more modern taximeter and printer receipt system . Engineers and taxicab operators must also be aware that only certain taximeters and compact printers are certified for usage under the new regulations .

Small printers provide the taxicab industry and passengers with that vital

It is clear that electrical engineers have a great opportunity to offer reliable , long lasting systems such as taxi printers .

peace of mind via clear , legible and professionally produced receipts in line with the new legislation . Easy to install and integrate , printed receipt systems assure both parties of fair , accurate and audited taxi fares . Achieving consistency in operations , taxi companies are able to give a far more accurate assessment of journey cost to potential passengers .

There are still many challenges that lie ahead in the current installation operation , particularly with companies such as Uber , which currently does not use a traditional taximeter system . However , electrical engineers now have all the tools at their disposal to educate taxi operators of the benefits of the new receipt system .

It is clear that electrical engineers have a great opportunity to offer reliable , long lasting systems such as taxi printers . As well as conforming to the new legislation , taxi operators will appear more professional to passengers through the provision of printed receipts , enhancing the credibility of their business and ultimately increasing passenger confidence and retention . The benefits are tremendous in terms of transparency and security , creating a much safer environment for passengers and taxi operators alike .