Taxi Driver Online

Knowledge tests for Hull's clueless cabbies: Taxi drivers told to smarten up


TAXI drivers could be tested on their knowledge of local roads following claims they are getting lost and costing customers extra fares.

The move comes amid growing concerns about the number of non-English speaking drivers currently working in Hull.

In one case, a clueless cabbie who took a fare in Ferensway didn't know where Beverley Road was.

Councillors heard this week that some customers also have to input their own address details into taxi sat-navs because drivers are unable to understand them or work the technology properly.

At the same time, a voluntary dress code for private hire and hackney carriage drivers is also being looked at in a bid to improve the image of the industry.

If given the go-ahead, drivers could be asked to stop wearing tracksuit bottoms and replica football shirts, as well as displaying offensive tattoos.

David West, secretary of the Hull Hackney Carriage Drivers Association, said: "We would certainly support a knowledge test being brought in for people applying for new licences.

"There has been a big increase in the number of foreign drivers in Hull over the last couple of years.

"I'm not being racist in saying that a lot of them can't speak two words of English, because that's the feedback we get from customers.

"It's not good for the travelling public

to have people who cannot understand English."

Alan Bradford, who drives a black cab, said he was aware of customers having to pay more because drivers were taking longer routes.

He said: "The story about the driver on Ferensway who didn't know how to get to Beverley Road is a true one.

"Similarly, I did a job to Withernsea from town, which ended up being £6 cheaper than an identical job for the same couple a week earlier because that driver had followed his sat-nav, whereas I didn't need to.

"Too many drivers rely on their sat-navs because they don't know where they are going half the time."

The traditional knowledge test for drivers applying for a taxi licence in Hull was scrapped in 2007 after a new basic test on literacy and numeracy skills was introduced.

Until then, applicants had to answer questions on Hull's geography as well as laws and regulations surrounding taxi driving and general customer service requirements.

Drivers who already hold a taxi licence would not have to sit the new test.

In London, all licensed tax drivers have to pass a knowledge test before they can drive one of the capital's famous black cabs.

Speaking at this week's licensing committee, Councillor John Abbott said: "People should be able to demonstrate a sufficient level of geographical knowledge to get from point A to point B.

"We have had numerous instances of drivers coming here to this committee with purported language skills who could not answer very simple questions.

"At the same time, their knowledge of the law has been cursory at best."

He said reintroducing the traditional knowledge test would be one way of improving the service to passengers.

"Drivers need to be able to communicate effectively to conduct their business. It's a fundamental part of their job," he added.

Councillor John Shipley said: "Good and efficient taxi drivers are an asset to the city and that's what we should be aiming for.

"We can't have much confidence in our taxi service if the drivers don't know where they are going."

Former committee chairman Councillor Elaine Garland said: "Because I don't drive, I use taxis all the time and I know most people would like to see the knowledge test being brought back."

She said a proposed voluntary dress code for taxi drivers was long overdue.

"It is one of my pet issues because I do feel some drivers do wear inappropriate clothing, which often isn't very clean and can smell a bit sweaty," she said.

"That sort of thing doesn't give a very positive view of the city if you are a visitor.

"It's only a problem with some taxi drivers but it doesn't cost a lot of money these days to dress smartly.

"A driver wearing scruffy tracksuit bottoms and a top that doesn't match sends out the wrong image."

Laws for hackney carriages prevent a mandatory dress code from being introduced.

But councillors hope private hire and black cab drivers will agree to a new voluntary code instead.

A recent survey carried out by the council found the majority of drivers supported both the reintroduction of the knowledge test and a voluntary dress code.

East Riding Council said it has no plans to introduce geographical tests for drivers.

But the council already tests drivers' knowledge of the law and licensing regulations.

It also has a voluntary dress code prohibiting flip-flops, football shirts and baseball caps.

A spokesman said customers had been aggressive towards drivers who supported rival teams in the past.

source: http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... story.html

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

Hull taxi firms back road knowledge test for cabbies


TAXI firms from across the city have welcomed a move by Hull City Council which could see a "knowledge" test reintroduced.

The council's licensing committee plans to make the changes as concern grows about the number of non-English speaking drivers currently working in Hull.

It has been claimed language barriers have led to many drivers not knowing where to take their fares.

As well as the test to challenge drivers' knowledge of the city streets, councillors are looking to introduce uniforms as well.

David Smith is the owner of 60 Cars in Walton Street, west Hull.

He said: "I agree with it in principle. There should be some form of test but, to be honest, most of the drivers pick up the knowledge as they work.

"You can't substitute what is learnt in three or four months on the road by studying a map with the intention of passing a test. They should all have an A to Z in the car, that's how I learnt.

"The previous test was the same for years, so most people knew what questions would be coming up.

"If the council introduce something, it needs to be better than the last effort."

The concerns were raised after councillors heard about customers having to input their own address details into taxi sat-navs because drivers are unable to understand them or work the technology properly.

And it was also revealed a driver had picked up a fair in Ferensway and did not know where Beverley Road was.

Mr Smith said: "We employ more than 100 drivers and about 40 of them are non-British.

"They are an asset to the company but we do ensure they can speak basic English at the very least.

"We take our responsibilities seriously and will be voluntarily introducing uniforms next month.

"We are a professional outfit and think this will support our image."

No decisions have been made as yet but city council officials will be looking into the scheme in finer detail before any changes are implemented.

Mark Fleming, sales and marketing manager at Hull Cars in Anlaby Road, west Hull, told the Mail: "We already have our own knowledge test and assess our drivers before they go out on the street with our branding.

"We have recently been awarded a nationally recognised management standard and all our drivers have been in uniform for the past three years.

"We would still continue to do our own in-house knowledge assessments but would welcome the council introducing its own."

Mr Fleming said it was difficult recruiting people who can properly do the job while adhering to stringent equal opportunities legislation.

"It's a fine balance you have to strike," he said.

"We conduct rigorous interviews and if the people can't get through them, which without a decent grasp of English would be quite difficult, we don't employ them.

"We are trying to break away from the stereotypical view of taxi services. We are a professional outfit.

"We spot-check at least 25 of our cars every day, make sure the drivers are in correct uniform and do random breathalyser tests."

Although laws for hackney carriages prevent a mandatory dress code from being introduced, it is hoped private hire and black cab drivers will agree to a new voluntary code instead.

In the East Riding, the council already tests drivers' knowledge of the law and licensing regulations and has a voluntary dress code prohibiting flip-flops, football shirts and baseball caps.

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... story.html

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

I wonder how many councillors are on this committee that voted to bin the knowledge on a previous committee?

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IDFIMH

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

Letters page from Hull

Council's U-turn on taxi test



In response to your story regarding lost taxi drivers, why did our wonderful licensing committee abandon the knowledge test in 2007 and leave the floodgates open to inappropriate people who are not qualified to do this kind of job?

Apparently because it was deemed to be unfair to people who do not know the city and surrounding area or have a good grasp of the English language.

All drivers who have not taken a knowledge test must be required to do so or have their licence revoked or suspended until they pass at the required standard.

Hull City Council says it is trying hard to attract more visitors to our great city and a lot of those people could depend on a knowledgeable taxi driver to find their hotel or visitor attractions and restaurants.

As for the dress code, I'm all for that.

Keith Jackson, Burton Constable.

AS an ex-cabbie, I'd like to point out that the last time there was a Hull taxi rank like the one pictured on the front page on Tuesday was in the early Nineties.

This is because our all-knowing, never-to-be-wrong city council decided in their superior wisdom that all Hackney carriages had to have wheelchair access, even though less than 1 per cent of the fares picked up were wheelchair users.

Showing misleading information like this will only confuse the young and inebriated into thinking they can get into any different coloured taxis but this is not the case.

Public hire taxis are all black and are the only ones you can hail without pre-booking.

Arnie Carmichael, Burton Constable.

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

Here's an even better one, tell them to come to Ashfield becuase the Council will help them pass the knowledge test.

surely finding Ashfield is qualification enough?

CC

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

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Grandad,

Maybe more wanted to vote against it..but got lost on the way there by Taxi..

I believe Sutton is in it, innit?

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

Ermmm yeah your right.