Taxi Driver Online

Hi all, long time no see, got out of the trade about 3 years ago for personal reasons and like a fool let my PH badge laps, I did ring a few months after it expired to see if I could renew, they do allow it for so many months after it expires, but was to late, but that isn't the reason for the post.
I hold a current HGV licence, which is what I have been doing since leaving the trade, held that for about 26 years.
I am now wanting to apply for my PH badge again, since I have to have a group 2 medical every 5 years to keep it current should the council accept a current HGV/PSV licence as being medically fit to hold a PH/hack licence? I know some council do accept this but my local LA doesn't seem to, should they?
I know it's easy to say just do one, but when you have to do 2 it seems a bit silly, I had to do 2 at 45, I am in no great rush to get my badge but want some advice on how to convince them to accept my HGV licence as evidence!
Cheers.

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now a licensed hackney driver

Good morning Doctor, I'm here for my HGV medical - 'No problem we'll start as soon as I have the cheque for £xx.' 'Thank you, right, do you have any heart problems?, Can you read the eye chart over there?'

Whilst I'm here I'll also have my taxi medical - 'No problem we'll start as soon as I have the cheque for £xx.' 'Thank you, right, do you have any heart problems?, Can you read the eye chart over there?'

What happens if one doc says you're fit to drive a HGV but another says you're not to drive a taxi ?

Erm, you can drive an HGV but not a taxi. Or am I missing something?

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Grandad,

I think they need to be sure when they issue the license that you are fit when they issue it, not two or three years ago when you did your HGV medical.

I know it doesn't make sense, but they have to be sure.

I wouldn't make an issue of it, just do the medical and move on back into the trade.

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IDFIMH

My wife is in the situation where she has a PCV licence and a Hackney/PH badge. The PCV medical is every 5 years and the Hackney one is every 3 years. A few years ago both of them fell in the same year, 2 months apart, and after a bit of discussion, the Council agreed to accept the PCV medical for that year. Why Hackney drivers have to have medicals more often than bus/lorry drivers is beyond me.

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Grandad,

That would happen in my case, as I don't have to meet the current eye sight standards to pass the HGV medical, but need to wear glasses to pass the taxi one.
I did go that route, payed a doctor to do 1 medical with to forms, but she said it would be illegal for her to put 2 different results on 2 forms for the eye test, so just let her do the HGV one, then had to go else were for the taxi 1.
I know cambridge council would not require me to take a medical to licence me, so why should other councils not accept it?

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now a licensed hackney driver

Because crashing with a full load of bananas is quite different to crashing with a full load of kids.

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IDFIMH

This is the advice of the DfT medical advisors as contained in "Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive".

•Taxi Licensing

The House of Commons Transport Select Committee on Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles recommended in February 1995 that taxi licence applicants should pass a medical examination before such a licence could be granted.

Responsibility for determining the standards, including medical requirements, to be applied to taxi drivers, over and above the driver licensing requirements, rests with the Transport for London in the Metropolitan area and the Local Authority in all others areas. Current best practice advice is contained in the booklet “Fitness to Drive”: A Guide for Health Professionals published on behalf of the Department by The Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited ((RSM) in 2006. This recommended that the Group 2 medical standards applied by DVLA in relation to bus and lorry drivers, should also be applied by local authorities to taxi drivers.

*Caveat: The advice of the Panels on the interpretation of EC and UK legislation, and its appropriate application, ismade within the context of driver licensing and the DVLA process. It is for others to decide whether or how those recommendations should be interpreted for their own areas of interest, in the knowledge of their specific circumstances.

A bus can carry a hell of a lot more kids than a taxi. A lorry load of bananas could quite easily cause a few deaths if it hits other vehicles during the crash.

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Grandad,

Would you get a PSV license on the back of a taxi medical?

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IDFIMH

If it's done to DSA standards yes.

Basically, if some councils accept it, all should!

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now a licensed hackney driver

Each council have their own conditions. Nothing you can do about it at the moment.

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Grandad,

Im no expert but 40tonne of anything is gonna leave a big hole behind it, as for 5000 gallons of unleaded, well....

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