Taxi Driver Online

Spelthorne taxi drivers to face spoken English test


NEW taxi drivers in Spelthorne will have to pass a test in spoken English and numeracy before being granted a licence under new council rules.

The changes were agreed by Spelthorne Borough Council’s licensing committee on Wednesday night, rejecting objections from a private hire driver that applicants with GCSE qualifications should be exempt from the test.

Councillor Simon Bhadye said the test was important to ensure drivers could communicate properly with customers and handle the financial side of the job.

“It is just like someone taking a driving theory test,” he said. “Everyone has to do that, it’s quite reasonable to go through that whether you have got a GCSE or not.

“If a driver can’t answer these questions, how is he to converse with the passengers?”

The changes, which will affect Hackney carriage drivers licensed by the council along with private firms, are part of a controversial general review of taxi regulations across the borough.

Tim Want, who runs private minicab firm Station Cars in Shepperton, said the English and numeracy test was unnecessary and would cost drivers, who will have to pay a £25 re-sit fee if they fail their first attempt.

“If I was applying for a licence and I had to sit the test I would be extremely offended,” he said.

“I think a little bit of common sense should be used. [The licensing committee] are just looking for a way of screwing more money out of people,” Mr Want claimed.

A draft version of the test has been drawn up and will be implemented from July.

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

whats a "Conflict of interest?"

And while the Mayor may have an excellent command of the English language, hes still an immigrant, now telling us that cabbies need an english test...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I wonder what would happen if a Scouser, Geordie, Jock or "good old norrrrwich" boy failed the test....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

They'd be coughing up £25 for a resit like everyone else

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I would have to wonder how anyone with GCSE qualifications would fail in the first place

If you can't count change or speak the naitive language, go and learn. simple.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

Pot and kettle spring to mind. The biggest screwers of driver's money are the private hire companies who take plenty and give little in return

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

What about a written test to?? Like the great CC said in the May issue of Taxi Talk, "if a driver can't fill an application out in front of an LO he shouldn't be given a badge".

There's so many positives in that statement Nigel

CC

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

The 1st one being the author.

Only if allowed to

theres always options...

toots is right......some places only have the one horse.

CC

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

It amazes me, all this talk of robbing PH (or HC) bases having drivers over

just as with the immigrants earning £2/hr driving



they have a choice

Two things.

1) If immigrants are being paid £2 an hour, then that f***s the rest of us wanting to earn more.

2) Some of those immigrants earning £2 a hour would be killed if they went back. Not all, but enough.

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IDFIMH

only you could bring immigrants into this

ffs

CC

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