Taxi Driver Online

Echoes here of the moaning about the Aberdeen pass rate, but they're doing the opposite about it as compared to what happened up north

(But I'd guess the 6% is simply the first-time rate rather than eventual passes.)

But hardly the first article of its kind about this sort of thing, and it won't be the last.

No mention of the cross-border angle, though, although that's presumably a factor

And I'd guess the more 'progressive' stuff that's proposed to replace the PH knowledge will be more about simply ticking a box than needing to put a bit of effort in...


'Knowledge' test for Bristol private hire drivers could be scrapped

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bris ... e-10218032

Just eight out of the last 133 applicants passed

Private hire drivers in Bristol will no longer be required to know thousands of routes and roads under city council plans.

Pre-booked cabbies would not need to take “the knowledge”, which tests them on the quickest way between a passenger pick-up and drop-off.

Of the 133 tests this year by applicants hoping to become private hire drivers, only eight have passed them successfully, according to a report to Bristol City Council’s public safety and protection committee.

The depth of local knowledge required has become a “significant barrier” to people entering the profession and, coupled with the increased reliability of sat nav technology for journeys that are already known in advance, licensing officers are suggesting scrapping that part of the entry exam.

The changes would not affect “the knowledge” for drivers of hackney carriage taxis, which can be flagged down on the street.

A report to the committee on Tuesday, June 3, said: “Concerns have been raised that sections of the test are no longer relevant.

“All private hire journeys are pre-booked, and the vast majority of drivers rely on satellite navigation devices.

“As such the current requirement to know the location of certain premises or roads is outdated.

“The level of detailed local knowledge required to pass the test is significant and represents a significant barrier to entering the trade.

“No change is proposed to the format of the hackney carriage knowledge test in light of the fact that they are available for public hire and as such will not always know the destination in advance of the journey.”

The 90-minute test for private hire applicants, which takes place at the council’s offices at 100 Temple Street, comprises 100 questions chosen randomly by a computer.

They must not only achieve minimum pass marks in all 10 categories – four or five out of 10 questions in each – but also answer at least 75 questions correctly overall.

The committee report said Department for Transport (DfT) guidance was updated in November 2023 to say: “Given the availability, reliability and ease of use of sat nav systems, licensing authorities should not require any topographical knowledge or navigational tests for private hire vehicle drivers.”

The report said: “In light of the DfT guidance and the significant advancements of satellite navigation technology since the test was first introduced, officers recommend that the topographical knowledge sections are removed from the test.”

This would mean applicants no longer needing to know exact locations and routes to clubs, pubs, restaurants, hotels, places of interest or the district of a particular road.

It said the sections remaining in the test would be safety, including child sexual exploitation, general road safety and how to calculate change, policy & legislation, and equality.

The report said these should also be strengthened with a wider range of questions and topics which protect public safety, such as disability awareness, planning routes using navigation devices, conflict avoidance, and what to do if racially abused or being subjected to other abusive comments or hate speech.

It said these areas were supported by the new DfT guidance.

The report added: “Officers consider that the amendments to the private hire knowledge test would make the test more relevant to the trade.

“It would ensure applicants had a good understanding of their role and responsibilities as a licensed private hire driver and therefore ensure the safety of the travelling public.”

the modern world is catching up why would people who probably have lived there less than a year know their way around.

Now they'll have the excuse to take the long way around and charge more.

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The quality of those applicants must be generally pretty pi** poor.

But rather than bin the test, you would have thought the council would have updated it a bit to make it easier.

However, I suspect the council is focusing on the reduction in licensing fees rather than the decline in standards.

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IDFIMH

Maybe they should have some sort of question on walk-round daily chck on the car when you first use it? That would be a major improvement in road safety.

More utter rot in the Telegraph

Wouldn't really bother to the extent that it doesn't mention that it's only about PHDs rather than HCDs. Nor that they use a photo of the Bristol blue HCs to illustrate the piece

Therefore, same old, same old. But this piece near the end makes it sound like all knowledge tests everywhere take three or four years to pass


Bristol axes the Knowledge after only eight taxi drivers pass

Council officials say ‘outdated’ test, which requires drivers to learn road names and locations, has become ‘barrier’

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/0 ... vers-pass/



Bristol has axed the Knowledge test for taxi drivers after only eight passed the quiz.

Council officials said the “outdated” test, which requires drivers to learn road names and locations to get their passengers to their destinations quickly, had become a “barrier”.

Figures revealed that just eight of 133 people taking it in Bristol this year managed to pass.

Drivers have to answer at least 75 out of 100 questions correctly and must also achieve a minimum pass mark in all 10 categories – four or five out of 10 questions in each.

A report to Bristol city council’s public safety and protection committee, the 90-minute test was described as “outdated”.

Test ‘should prioritise safety’

In November 2023, a decision was taken to update Department for Transport guidance, with the committee report making it clear that topographical knowledge was no longer needed.

It said: “Given the availability, reliability and ease of use of sat nav systems, licensing authorities should not require any topographical knowledge or navigational tests for private hire vehicle drivers.”

Instead, the report recommended that the sections that should stay in the test should prioritise safety, including child sexual exploitation, general road safety, along with how to calculate change, policy and legislation, and equality.

The committee further suggested the test needed to be strengthened with a wider range of questions and topics which protect public safety, including disability awareness, planning routes using navigation devices, conflict avoidance, and also what steps to take if they face racial abuse, abusive comments or hate speech.

The Knowledge was first introduced in 1865 as a requirement for taxi drivers, and it takes between three or four years to master the test. Drivers are taught precise locations and routes to hotels, pubs, restaurants and clubs, along with places of interest or the district of a particular road.

In London, the test is regarded as the most advanced and prestigious taxi driver test in the world.

Can't be bothered reading it all, but the Daily Mail's website has also picked up on it, and is even worse, with a photo of a London A-Z map etc.

But it makes it sound like it takes four years for wannabee Bristol PHDs to do their knowledge there

I'd guess that in reality the applicants there are just giving it a go without any prep, before badging in South Glocs or Wolverhampton, or wherever, and then working for Uber in Bristol


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ivers.html

The race to the bottom is well and truly on.

Desperate licensing departments, desperately trying to save their licensing fees.

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IDFIMH