Taxi Driver Online

When I did my knowledge test here I had to learn the shortest routes from A to B of 75 different routes. There was also 3 other sections to the test the highway code, spot locations and hackney & private hire laws and regulations. The diffence between the HC and PH test was the driver of the HC would take a licensing officer out who would ask the driver to take them to different places and would obviously note if they went the shortest route.

What I would like to know is what the knowledge test entails in your area. Also whether or not it is the same for ph or indeed if ph have to do any type of knowledge test

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

when i took my test for combined HC / PH we had a 4 part test

part 1 routes - written test of routes - you had to write down how to get from point a to point b within the borough naming road names and numbers, which turn off islands etc - think all in all there were 20 random routes you had to write down.

part 2 - naming the locations / streets of local landmarks, churches, hospitals etc

part 3 - written test on taxi + PH laws

part 4 - road craft / signs / stopping distances etc.

And you had 40 minutes to complete it all in.

I have since heard that the council has now done away with the routes and locations part of the test and now just has a tick the correct box type test !!! - which would explain why the company i used to work for was taking on drivers who didnt even know where the main roads or train station were !

Routes with LO on-board, either end of a large number of streets and places of interest.

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IDFIMH

Part 1
Candidate is given a sheet with 20 random street names on it. They have to correctly name the streets at each end.
15/20 to pass and move on to part 2.

Part 2.
Candidate is given a sheet with 20 places of interest on it.
These include parks, pubs, hotels, office blocks, statues, etc etc
They must correctly state the location of them.
15/20 to pass and move on to part 3.

Part 3.
Candidates are given 4 sets of places and must correctly state the shortest route from point A to point B and, in 2 of them, on to point C.
3/4 to pass and move on to part 4.

Part 4
Questions from the highway code. Can be anything.
Don't remember the pass mark (around 75% I think) it's been a lot of years.

Part 5
Candidate drives the hack sergeant to one or two places in safety and comfort by the shortest route and then back to the test centre.

Pass this and you are a taxi driver. You will be issued with a taxi driver's licence, subject to licensing committee approval, which also allows you to drive PH cars.
PH only licences are available but nobody bothers since the test is the same.

Fail any part and you start again from part 1 on your next try. You must wait at least 1 month before you are allowed to try again.
Fail 3 times and you can't re-apply for 12 months. You will also have to pay again.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Any chance you could expand on this please sussex and does this include ph

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Yes it includes PH.

Which bit needs expanding?

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IDFIMH

http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/downloads/bhcc/transport/applicants_info_pack_June_2010.pdf

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Public Carriage Office (London) for Private Hire:

Draw and name the four points of the compass.

Name two counties bordering London.

Name two motorways which cross the M25.

Which motorway would use to get to Heathrow Airport from Central London?

Which direction (compass point) is Brighton from London?

etc, etc..

On the other hand, The Knowledge (between 2:00 and 5:00):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my4lDxOCCyg

I did The Knowledge.

I won't bother to go into any great depth as its world famous.

Suffice to say by having the highest entry standards in the world you can make a decent living down in old London Town, as I'm sure other areas would benefit from with more stringent standards of knowledge and vehicles.

And no artificial restriction of numbers needed?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Thanks, I already know this. I didn't want to exclude you from the thread so I thought I wouldn't mention it either way

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

http://www.fareham.gov.uk/council/depar ... wtest.aspx

Like falling off a log with a push.

Needs toughening up, badly, to improve standards, IMHO.

Well you could argue that driver numbers are restricted by the length and depth of the KOL process.

The Taxi manufacturers have said that for years.

Agreed, as a quality control it is second to none.
There are no artificial restrictions on the vehicle numbers though?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

does that include London pedicabs