Minicab drivers in Cambridge area face English language testsMinicab drivers operating in the Cambridge area should face English language tests to improve safety as planned by Boris Johnson in London, according to taxi drivers.
The call has been made by the Cambridge Hackney Carriage Association and the News can today reveal that South Cambridgeshire District Council, which licenses the majority of private hire vehicles operating in the city and surrounding areas, is considering introducing English tests for the drivers.
The move comes after Transport for London (TfL) announced that private hire drivers will be required to demonstrate a certain standard of English in line with Home Office requirements for citizenship applications.
TfL also revealed plans for passengers to be given fare estimates and details of their vehicle and driver before the start of each journey.
Paul Bradley, general secretary of the Cambridge taxi drivers group which represents more than 200 cabbies, has called for the language tests to be introduced and to cut the number of minicab licences handed out by councils.
He said: "I feel the council need more control over private hire numbers for a similar reason we pushed for limitation on taxis.
"As for speaking English this is surely the first thing you would need to be able to do. I have come across only a few drivers that can barely speak English and am surprised they managed to get through the council's knowledge test let alone be a taxi driver."
Last year Cambridge City Council's licensing committee decided to limit the number of licensed taxis, also known as hackney carriages, that can operate in the city setting the limit at 317 after more than a decade of unfettered licensing.
A spokeswoman for the district council was asked if the authority was also planning to introduce language tests.
She said: "No we don't have a specific 'English Test', but we are considering a knowledge test for private hire that will test the understanding of written English."
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, last year called on TfL to bring in new rules to ensure private hire cab drivers have a "certain basic level" of English.
Speaking to the London Assembly, he said: "I don't think we can have a situation in which minicab drivers, who one way or another are regulated by this city, should be able to drive around and take fares without being able to speak English properly and without knowing the basics of geography of London.
"I have asked TfL to bring forward regulations to require a certain basic knowledge of English for all minicab drivers."
Read more:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Minicab ... z3ycTVrRmW
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