Taxi Driver Online

Blow to written English test for minicab drivers

Sadiq Khan’s plan to bring in a written English test for minicab drivers has suffered a blow after the London Assembly voted against the move.

A City Hall motion, proposed by Labour’s own transport spokeswoman, claimed the cost was “unfair” and could threaten the livelihoods of thousands of drivers.

All minicab drivers will have to demonstrate their proficiency in English after taxi app giant Uber lost a High Court challenge earlier this month.

New Transport for London rules include a requirement that drivers complete a £180 written essay and speaking test to gain a licence to work in the capital from September.

Mr Khan hailed the move, stating that the test would be a “vital part” of driving up standards and improving passenger safety in London.

But opponents have claimed it would lead to indirect racial discrimination as many drivers were immigrants, as well as putting around 30,000 jobs at risk.

London Assembly members called on Mr Khan to drop the test in favour of a verbal English test instead.

They argued that the written test, which would cost drivers over £300 once the loss of a day’s pay was taken into account, was “disproportionate” to the benefits. 

The motion added: “This is an unfair cost, especially for drivers that may have lived in the UK all of their lives.”

Bizarre questions in sample papers for private hire drivers included ones about life on Mars and the Northern Lights. Others asked about pollution and keeping fit. 

The Assembly called on TfL to follow the lead of other licensing authorities across the UK which require a verbal English test instead - at a cost of just £25.

The transport body will soon require private hire drivers to pass an advanced driving test which will cost an additional £149.

Labour’s Florence Eshalomi, who proposed the non-binding motion, said: “It is of course vital that taxi drivers can communicate with their passengers in English. 

“However the estimated £300 to take the test seems a disproportionate cost... In addition, every time a driver isn’t on the road they are losing pay.

“It’s time for the Mayor to look into other options – what we don’t want to see is people losing their livelihoods.”

Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in London, said: “We’ve always supported spoken English skills, but writing an essay has nothing to do with communicating with passengers. 

“With Transport for London estimating more than 33,000 private hire drivers will lose their livelihoods we hope the Mayor will think again. This new rule is unfair, discriminatory and unnecessary. Let’s keep London open.”

But a spokesman for the Mayor said: “Drivers being able to speak English is a vital part of ensuring passengers get the high standard of service they need and deserve. 

“This could include discussing a better route or talking about a medical condition, but also includes written considerations like understanding new regulations, licensing requirements or changes to the law.

The Mayor will continue to work to improve standards and passenger safety across London’s private hire and taxi ‎services.”

source: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transpor ... 88011.html

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

Make sure that that if they are not from the Uk, and don't own a european full drivers licence, that they take a UK test, and they must have lived in the UK for at least 2 years, instead

I think that is similar to what was first envisaged, but Uber challenged that as being discriminatory.

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IDFIMH