Only licensed hackney carriages can pick up passengers on the street without pre-booking. London's traditional black cabs (so-called, despite being of various colours and advertising designs) are specially constructed vehicles designed to confirm to the standards set out in the Conditions of Fitness. Cab drivers are licensed and must have passed an extensive training course (the Knowledge). Unlike many other cities, the number of taxicab drivers in London is not limited. For many years purpose-designed vehicles were used, but from about 2008 specially-adapted "people carrier" vehicles have also been used. There have been many models over the years. The space beside the driver's seat can be used for luggage, although there is much luggage room in the passenger compartment. For improved manoeuvrability, the turning circle is smaller than other vehicles of similar size (a black cab is said to be able to "turn on a sixpence"). The cab seats three people on the back seat, and two more in backwards-facing "jump seats". There is good headroom, to facilitate entry to and exit from the vehicle. The classic Austin FX3 "black cab" taxi of 1948 was built by car body builder Carbodies in partnership with Mann & Overton and Austin. More than 7000, mainly destined for London, were produced over ten years. Carbodies concentrated on producing complete taxis, starting with the Austin FX4 in 1958/9; this is the classic cab still common today. They were taken over by Manganese Bronze Holdings plc in 1973. In 1982 Carbodies took over the intellectual rights to the FX4 from British Leyland (which had by then absorbed Austin). Latterly, developed FX4 models were known as the LTI Fairway. LTI introduced the successor to the FX4, the TX1 in 1997. ZOOMAGE RECOMENDED!!!!!!! Have a nice day.