Taxi Driver Online

Outrage at new rules as taxi drivers told to retake tests at their own cost



Every single taxi driver in Gloucester has been told they must retake their driving tests – at their own expense.

New city council rules mean taxi drivers must be retested every ten years.

It is understood some of the rustier drivers have failed the standard exam set by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

All hackney carriage and private hire drivers licensed by the authority must take tests by October next year.

It will cost them up to £112 to take the test for wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

Darren Mayer, from Associated Taxis in Barton Street, said most drivers were against the move.

He said: "This is completely unnecessary. I have been driving for 32 years and I've never had an accident or claimed on insurance. I'm a safe driver.

"A normal driver can drive until they're 70 without having to take another test unless they have done something wrong. Does this mean all public service drivers will have to take their driving tests? This just baffles me."

Gloucester City Council has replaced the Gloucestershire Road Safety Assessment with the DVSA tests to maintain high driving standards.

Cabbies who fail will be suspended until they pass.

Neil Mackie, the sales manager at Andy Cars in Eastgate Street, said some taxi drivers were failing.

He said: "The council has recognised the tests have previously not been good enough and wants to set the bar higher. They are taking a responsible attitude to ensure citizens of Gloucester have a safe journey."

A meeting will be held today in the city council's North Warehouse, where many taxi drivers are expected to oppose the plans.

Lisa Jones, Gloucester City Council's food, licensing and markets manager, said: "We changed our policy following a request from the hackney carriage and private hire trade to replace the Gloucestershire Road Safety Assessment with the DVSA. Many councils require taxi drivers to take some form of test to ensure they meet the standards to deliver an important service to residents safely."


Read more: http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Outr ... z3sUYC34D3

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

So what they are transporting the PUBLIC and should meet the highest standards surely?

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

A good few years ago they tried that here and eventually stopped it the problem is that to pass the test you have to drive like a learner as the people taking the test are used to testing learner drivers . experienced drivers can check the mirror with a glance and don't have to turn their heads nearly half failed on this it is very difficult to change from being an experienced driver to making every single action look obvious hence the failure rate was very high

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

So how does this play with the Kaivanpor judgement?

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=27919

The council have to prove that the driver is no longer fit and proper, not the reverse.

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IDFIMH

darlington v kaye?

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