Taxi Driver Online

Cabbies say they face two month wait for re-tests to keep their licences



Taxi drivers in Gloucester are allegedly facing a two-month wait to retake their driving tests which they must pass by October next year to keep their licences.

Rules imposed by Gloucester City Council mean all taxi drivers in the city must be re-tested once every 10 years- at their own expense.

Some of the rustier drivers are allegedly failing the exams set by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

Gloucester taxi rank City Cars said it has to send its drivers as far away as London and Manchester to take the exams at a suitable time.

But the authority has said cabbies could take tests within four weeks at DVSA centres in Gloucester.

Hussain Vorajee, driver at City Cars, said many cabbies' livelihoods are at stake due to the new rules.

He said: "If someone has been driving well for 25 years they should be judged on their licence. If you fail now you won't be able to take it again until February."

Around 100 members of Gloucester Hackney Carriage Association and private hire drivers protested against the rules at a Gloucester City Council meeting last week.

But Neil Mackie, sales manager of Andy Cars in Eastgate Street, said taxi drivers in the city should get behind the plans.

He said: "We need to stop embracing mediocrity in this country and improve ourselves. If you're drivers are professional they need to be trusted."

Gloucester City Council has said it will review the rules and inform cabbies of its decision.

Lisa Jones, licensing manager at Gloucester City Council, said "As the demand increases, the waiting times may increase, as it means more taxi drivers are booking in to take their tests. With the deadline of October 2016, there is still ample time for drivers to get booked in for their tests.

"The DVSA have also confirmed to us that waiting times at neighbouring assessment centres are longer."


Read more: http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Cabb ... z3ulgO5G8Z

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

let me guess drivers drove like an experienced driver instead of a learner and were failed I think there should be a separate group of examiners for this that don't assess you like a learner

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

You either pass the test, or you fail it, nothing allegedly about that.

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IDFIMH

10 months time means they have got five chances to pass.

If you can't pass the test in that many go's then maybe the trade is best rid of you.

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IDFIMH

Not so sure about that Sussex it is very hard to change your driving style to suit the examiner

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

Rather than having to take the same test basically as a learner driver if they really want to improve driving standards wouldn't an advanced driving course be a more beneficial option, plus it may benefit the drivers by lowering insurance premiums.

I quite agree

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