Taxi Driver Online

Call to scrap London taxi driver 'Knowledge' test


The test which all black cab drivers in London must pass to secure a licence should be scrapped, according to the capital's Conservatives.

The Greater London Authority Tories called the test - known as the Knowledge - "archaic" and a "major barrier" for recruitment.

The exam requires drivers to learn 25,000 street names.

Drivers' representatives said they were "stunned and shocked" by the suggestion.

The Saving An Icon report by Richard Tracey found black cab drivers needed to make "fundamental changes" to keep up with the "increasingly popular app-based private hire firms" in an expanding city.

He said the Knowledge was outdated in a world of GPS navigation, expensive, and could take people on average three years to complete.

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He added: "The examinations imposed are overly comprehensive in a time of GPS navigation, and the cost of purchasing the designated Hackney Carriage is a barrier to entry in an industry which is also rapidly ageing."

But Steve McNamara, the general secretary of the The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association said: "I'm stunned and shocked that anybody would suggest doing anything that altered or lowered the standard of taxi driving.

"However, that does not mean that we wouldn't be prepared to review some issues...with the proviso that standards wouldn't be dropped."

He said having such rigorous standards meant drivers "valued" their licences and "they did not want to lose it".

As part of the review Mr Tracey also suggested:

◾A review of the industry's competition should be held

◾Drivers should be helped financially to purchase Hackney Carriages which can cost twice as much as cars favoured by private hire drivers

◾Taxi ranks should come as standard with developments.

Nick said scrapping the Knowledge test "would be a huge backward step"

Taxi driver Nick, from Hertford, called the proposed move "devastating".

"It would be a huge backward step," he said. "For a forward-thinking city, why would you not want a very high standard of taxis? The only reason they would do would be to [bow] to the pressure of Uber."

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35065681

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

I'm all for standards.

However a memory test that takes, on average, three years to pass, is far too stringent a standard IMO.

Not too sure about the regimental process drivers also have to put up with, during that process, and my view is it about 100 years out of date.

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IDFIMH

so what do you say to the 25000 folk that dedicated a major part of their lives to passing the test - ooopps?

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

You've all done very well.

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Grandad,

I always say to people when their eyes raise re the 3 years study.....look at it like this - If I said go to University for 3 years (as they do), get your qualification, and then you are going to earn in excess of £££££££££££ (their eyes raise even further)....would you do it, the answer is always, YES. To then take away this test is like taking the (worth) away from a University degree, in essence further denigrating the trade.

Take this on board as well - If a satellite goes down! what happens then? and do not say use a map, as many can speak the language, but they cannot read it. It would be totally wrong to take it away and should be challenged in the courts re compensation.

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

One satellite going down would make very little difference. My old Garmin III used to show the satellites that were being used. You could get a position from just 2 satellites. An accurate position from 3 satellites but the system would use all 12 visable satellites as and when available. I'm not sure how many are up there and in use today.

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Grandad,

He said the Knowledge was outdated in a world of GPS navigation, expensive, and could take people on average three years to complete.

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He added: "The examinations imposed are overly comprehensive in a time of GPS navigation, and the cost of purchasing the designated Hackney Carriage is a barrier to entry in an industry which is also rapidly ageing."

proof if ever it was needed that technology is NOT always reliable and it would only take a small team of hackers to bring the whole transport network in london to a halt. Imagine if everyone relied on GPS and Russia or Chine used an EMP weapon or even a severe solar flare hit the satellites it could take years to fix the problem

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

I say they should f***ing cheer up.

They earn more money than any other cab trade in the country, possibly the world, but they are so far up their own arses their teeth show.

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IDFIMH

Picked up four punters today from a broken down national express coach to Victoria coach station.
Not bragging, could have done without it. London traffic, every driver, cyclist, and pedestrian are mental, with a death wish. Found my way into London village with my sat nav, but that wouldn't make me a London cabbie. Poured down with rain all day, took an age to get into, and out of town, and to cap it all, the A1 was shut near Stamford on the way back to civilisation. Sat nav told me there was heavy traffic on Oxford Street, a helpful piece of information.

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Former taxi driver

The A1's been shut near Stamford EVERY day this week I think there have been 8 major crashes in 6 days that wasn't you i saw at the BP on Scotgate filling up was it ? There was a lincoln plated E7 there this afternoon

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

Hi,
I am a first year journalism student writing a feature article about London taxis and the 'scrapping' of the Knowledge and the impact Uber has had on the taxi trade. I would be very grateful if any london cabbies could possibly let me know their views on the topic? My email is mollie.zsigo@city.ac.uk.
Many thanks!!!!!

And don't we know it in Melton Mowbray!!!

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Grandad,

Yes, let us scrap the knowledge but before we do that let us reduce the number of MP's who lord over us.
With technology we should create methods ov voting on every major issue that needs to be dealt with.
Every voter makes his choice and logs it on a computer and whatever the majority vote for that becomes law.
It would work wonders,..be a proper democracy and save lots of money in terms of salries benefits and ''expenses'' paid to the useless lot.
The parliament building could be sold for much needed housing in the capital.
Equally get rid of the local Gov't white elephants.
Greater manchester has 10 licensing boroughs under 10 different councils...We don't need them...one is more than enough to cater for the needs of the people here.
Similar cuts could be made across the country.
Billions could be saved in wages and expenses not to mention the gold plated pensions.
So, let's start !

Yes, that was me. Back to Lincoln via Bourne and sleaford.

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Former taxi driver

How would issues be debated? How much time would each individual voter need to spend listening to the arguments for and against an issue? There is absolutely nothing to stop you from getting involved yourself via you local party. If you can get enough support you could even get selected to stand for election yourself. That is what I did this year.

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Grandad,