Milton Keynes taxi drivers to present petition against being forced to re-take driving testsA petition will be presented to Milton Keynes Council to protest against the decision that all taxi drivers must re-take their driving tests.
As OneMK previously reported, new measures were introduced in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy – which took effect on January 1, 2016 – to improve safety for passengers.
In the new policy, all current drivers seeking to renew their taxi licences will now be given a total of nine months' notice to re-take and pass a DVSA test.
The move has sparked outrage among taxi drivers, and the Milton Keynes Hackney Carriage Association has said it will present a petition urging the council to re-consider the measure.
Peter Kirkham, chairman of Milton Keynes Hackney Carriage Association, said: "We agree that drivers should be tested on initial applications – absolutely no problem.
"But I have been a driver for 49 years and had no accidents – why do people like myself need to take the test again?"
Approximately 180 hackney carriage drivers have so far signed the petition, which will be presented at a meeting on March 16.
Other measures introduced in the new policy include an encouragement for drivers to install CCTV cameras, and all applicants will be refused licences if their vehicle has tinted windows.
Councillor Catriona Morris, chair of the council's regulatory and licensing committee, has confirmed the council may consider only enforcing fresh driving tests for drivers with previous offences and complaints, as a result of the Hackney Carriage Association's concerns.
Speaking about the policy as a whole, she added: "We still get lots of complaints about drivers and this is about ensuring community safety, which is a priority.
"Anything to give more confidence to the people of Milton Keynes has got to be the way to go."
Read more:
http://www.onemk.co.uk/Milton-Keynes-ta ... z3zt7VfXBT
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