Taxi Driver Online

New taxi drivers in Bristol now need Gold Standard


All new taxi drivers in Bristol will have to complete the Gold Standard taxi driver training programme before they are issued with a licence from now on.

The Gold Standard is a kitemark for Hackney carriage and private hire drivers and is one of the first in the UK.

The Gold Standard training is designed to help drivers improve their skills in the service they offer in particular in how they meet the needs of all passengers, including those with disabilities.

It was devised by Bristol City Council with partners including input from disabled people from the Bristol Physical Access Chain, which acts as an advisory group for access issues for the council.

Since introducing this scheme on a voluntary basis nearly 200 drivers have gained the gold standard and from now on all new drivers will be required to take the training.

The standard is based on a vocational qualification in Road Passenger Vehicle driving (BTec) and the World Host qualification in customer care. Additionally a specially designed training module around disability equality has been incorporated into the programme.

Nick Carter from Safer Bristol said: "The taxi and private hire trade are vitally important to the economic and social well-being of the City of Bristol.

"For visitors to the city a taxi driver will often be the first point of contact they have, while many permanent residents of the city, particularly disabled people, depend on the provision of high-quality taxi and private hire services to sustain and enhance their quality of life.

"We believe by requiring new applicants for licences to take this training and encouraging others to gain the kitemark the overall quality of service will be improved."

source: http://www.redlandpeople.co.uk/New-taxi ... story.html

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

Damn, we have become qualification obsessed these days. All a decent driver requires is the Ability to drive a vehicle in a safe and comfortable manner whilst at the same time doing so in a polite and courteous way for all their customers regardless of ability or disability.

If that does not come naturally to some drivers then no amount of training or certification will make any long term difference to their overall outlook to passenger care...the benefits brought about through training will only last as a far as the gaining of the required qualification and they'll then resort to their old bad habits and poor manners within weeks or days.

Nah.

We've been doing it in London since Oliver Cromwells time.

my views are known

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

Think its a great idea,we could get the stars on a badge to wear,similar to mcdonalds ! Why stop there we could also have awards ceremonys and get medals for things like length of service and whos taken the most money

Load of cobblers dreamed up by suits in offices on £50K a year to keep themselves in jobs

Btec
DSA
Driver CPC

blah blah blah

to drive a car?....

_________________
Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most