4. KNOWLEDGE TEST AND DRIVER TRAINING PROGRAMME
KNOWLEDGE TEST
All applicants for a hackney carriage/private hire driver’s licence in must undertake
and pass a knowledge test. The knowledge test has six sections and involves a series of
questions in relation to the area and some of the popular destinations in the
surrounding districts. The knowledge test also includes questions on licensing regulations;
driver and vehicle responsibilities; fare calculations; and a basic written literacy assessment to
ensure that they have the necessary communication skills to be a hackney carriage/private
hire driver. Further details of the knowledge test are available on request.

Please note there is a fee of £40.00 payable to undertake the
knowledge test. If a retest is required there will be a charge of £20.00. Applicants can sit a
maximum of three tests. Applicants who fail a third test will be unable to re-take the
knowledge test for a minimum period of six months.

Is anything allowed that a council says must be adhered to , that's until someone disagrees and tests it. Our council doesn't allow e-cigs , if you are caught smoking in a licensed vehicle three times your livelihood is taken away permanently , ignore a keep left sign and your banned from working for four weeks , any of these sound legal ? They are till someone sticks there head out of the sand and refuses to take it !

Heres our councils stance on our knowledge test

In the last 2 weeks I have had reports from 2 potential new drivers in our Borough that they have been told that because they have failed the local knowledge test twice that they can only take it one more time. If they fail the test for a third time they will not be able to take it again. I have read through the Council policy and I can't see any mention of this anywhere. Can they impose such a condition?

I suspect they can take it again, but maybe a period of study is required.

We do not need licensing officers spending all their time with people not taking the knowledge seriously, we need them out on the streets.

It is raining here today so I suspect that they will be out.

But it isn't in the policy and it isn't in the driver pack. So is this something that they have just decided to add without going through the correct procedure?