Taxi Driver Online

New written test for borough taxi drivers


The local authority says that the new policy, which has just been accepted, seeks to reinforce the “high standards for all new licence holders joining the trade.”

NEW taxi drivers in Loughborough will be asked to sit a three paper Written Knowledge Test by Charnwood Borough Council to assess their basic command of the English language.

The local authority says that the new policy, which has just been accepted, seeks to reinforce the “high standards for all new licence holders joining the trade.”

The council wants to remove the Highway Code Test and Hackney Knowledge Test, which taxi drivers must pay to take, and replace it with a new Written Knowledge Test.

There will be three papers – law, customer care and geographical.

In the report it states: “There is a requirement for a driver to be able to speak and write a certain degree of English, to be able to take instruction (i.e where to go) and write a receipt on request.

“The driver will need to pass all three papers, which will be based on the new policy.

“Should an applicant appear to be experiencing difficulty in completing the test officers will seek to ascertain why.

“Facilities will be made available if an applicant is dyslexic for example.

“If due to a language barrier, the applicant will be advised to seek a better understanding of English before continuing to resit the test.

“This is considered a reasonable and proportionate mitigating action.”

The council says the questions have not yet been written and will be compiled early next year.

A Charnwood Borough Council spokesman said: “We have more than 400 drivers in Charnwood and receive a lot of applications each year.

“We do get asked if the tests are in English.

“There has always been a requirement to undertake the written tests and driver assessments in English and the draft policy simply aims to make that requirement clearer for all applicants.”

Other changes include creating a combined badge for all drivers.

Currently drivers can either have a hackney, private hire or dual badge.

A combined badge will be introduced for all hackney and private hire drivers which will allow them to drive either type of licensed vehicle.

In Charnwood, there are 265 hackney drivers, 114 private hire licensed drivers and 49 dual licensed drivers.

The draft policy will now go out to consultation.

source: http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/lo ... i-12152616

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

Damn, I was just going to post this myself.
Interesting that they are seeking to go to a joint Hackney/Private hire drivers license. Something that some on here say doesn't exist in law. Perhaps one of the trade organisations should take this matter up with them.

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Grandad,

49 dual license holders would seem to scuttle that one !

As for the written test brilliant well done the council note no mention of retrospective application in other words they respect "grandfather rights" no not you you burke

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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

It defo exists as I have one.

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IDFIMH

Now I wonder why any council would want to impose a dual badge upon any Hackney or PH driver.

It could only be for the convenience of the council, I would have thought.

How many drivers flit between hack/ ph? SIT DOWN, GRANDAD!

Personally, I would decline the offer of a dual badge for two reasons.

1) in over thirty years, I have only ever been Hackney Carriage.

2) if I did accept a dual badge, I would be inviting the council to impose conditions on my licence.

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Former taxi driver

Our council have issued duel badges since before my time in the job. I have asked the question at meetings and the answer has always been that it is better for drivers and better for the council. WE do have a few drivers in town who drive both as indeed our drivers did until 2 years ago. I pointed out to the drivers that it meant that the council could impose conditions on them and they weren't bothered. They just saw the saving in costs by having the one license. So because the drivers weren't interested I left it at that with the comment of don't come to me if you have a problem because of it.

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Grandad,

Mine wasn't imposed.

I'm delighted I don't have to buy two anymore.

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IDFIMH

Amazed at people accepting Councils issuing licenses that do not exist,its no wonder that this trade is going to the dogs.By accepting these infringements of the law you are encouraging the deregulation of the trade.


Again little mention by those who are very critical of some on this site about the dangers of the proposed deregulation of private hire in the Tourism Deregulation going through Parliament at the moment or is it another case we will just sit here and shout after it is passed.The NTA have made representations but the critics appear not to have done anything.

Are they going to role the questions every time or are they going to keep them the same?

I am sure members within the RMT Unite and the GMB have discussed this and have decided THEIR policy's on the proposed legislation and will instruct their MP's appropriately..........................and if you were a member you could have partaken in that debate ................remind me how many MP's do the NTA sponsor

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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

didn't know that that's an issue. if you passed ph knowledge test once you don't need hackney test anymore, you can just buy hackney driver's licence for £200 something and that's it, same opposite way and we don't call it dual licence you just've two licences and you've use proper one for licenced car you curently driving... that's not a rocket science...

Clearly it is rocket science. A duel badge means that you have one drivers badge instead of two. It also means that a council can place conditions on the Hackney license that they previously could only do with a by-law.

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Grandad,

Loads down here.

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IDFIMH

Don't assume that because it's not front page of The Sun that nothing is being done about it.

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IDFIMH

Do not read the Sun as it alludes from the truth,printers strike miners strike springs to mind.

The question that was asked has not been answered,are you making representations against it.