Image Keywords: The history of the London Taxi or Cab goes back to the time of horse drawn cabs which where called Hackney cabs. In London taxies are still called Hackney cabs and still come under some of the old rules. They are the only taxies that are allowed to pick people up from the street. Source: h2g2's researchers, BBCiLondon taxi cab car vehicle lights movement headlamp headlamps lamp lamps black night