Taxi Driver Online

New assessments for Chichester taxi drivers

Would-be taxi drivers wanting to work in the area covered by Chichester District Council are now being assessed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) before being given a licence to drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.

More than 160 councils throughout Britain have already agreed to take testing on board for hackney carriage and private hire drivers. Central operations change manager Phil Coop said: “We are delighted Chichester District Council (CDC) has decided to introduce this assessment as driving a taxi carries a great deal of responsibility.”

Specially-trained driving examiners assess the ability of applicants to drive safely and professionally in a ‘real’ environment. The test includes manoeuvres designed specifically with the operational taxi driver in mind and is set at a higher standard than the practical test for learner drivers.

The assessment ensures the competence of the applicant to drive passengers in safety and comfort. Those who are successful receive a certificate of competence. Taxi assessments became available at test centres at Chichester, Portsmouth, Gosport and Worthing on April 1.

Taxi drivers are the only people to carry passengers for money who do not have to take statutory vocational tests. Laurence Foord, principle licensing officer, said: “CDC is fully committed to improving road safety at all levels and the opportunity to participate in the DSA Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Assessment Scheme was seen as an excellent way to ensure that drivers licensed by this council are of a consistently high standard”.

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IDFIMH

another earner (expense) for the "trainers", checking drivers can drive, isnt the DSA supposed to test drivers first time round?

whats the "extra" manoeuvers "just for taxi drivers"?

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

Driving with one hand on wheel the other on kebab.

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IDFIMH

The DSA test for learners is exactly that. A check that the learner has reached the minimum standard required to drive on the road.
The idea is that once passed, the driver should get better with time and experience.
No check is ever made that this actually happens. (If you need evidence, just spend a few minutes watching people trying to park at any tesco on a Saturday afternoon )

Also, many drivers get their driving licences outside the UK, where standards are often lower.
In some places the test consists of finding the right official and paying the required bribe.

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And some places the standards are higher




Berwick?

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

or for Toots, one hand on the wheel and one on her tuppence....

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

It's the ones which have lower standards that are the problem.



No, the DSA driving test is the same in Berwick as the rest of the UK.

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

I presume they have brought in the DSA Taxi assessment for new drivers, it's has been around for a few years and i believe its a good thing.

CC

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

We have been trying to get the council here in Cheshire West and Chester to adopt the DSA test for new applicants.
We used to have a practical driving test here in Chester which was superseded by the New driver qualification which is basically the BTEC.

This replaced both the practical test and the Knowledge test.

They seem more intent on implementing a new points system rather than ensuring we have drivers that can actually do the job in the first place.

http://www.cwacha.co.uk/Cwacha_Site/DSA_Proposal.html

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http://chestertaxicall.co.uk

I agree. I also don't see why it should only be for new applicants.

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

next will be a 3 yearly DSA taxi driver test

mark my words

and a taxi driver CPC

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

BTW, how can there be support for the DSA taxi testing but little for a taxi tachograph requirement when a dog tired taxi driver is probably a bigger danger than a wide awake L driver?

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

Who's saying that those who support the DSA 'taxi' test don't support a restriction on the crazy hours some of us work?

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IDFIMH

cos in other threads they have said just that

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

Well, I've never said it. Who you got in mind?

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