Taxi Driver Online

Number of taxi driver applications soar - after council axed test to prove they know the roads

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... r-16721962

A ChronicleLive investigation has revealed there was a huge upsurge in applications in 2015

Taxi driver numbers exploded after the council scrapped a test to prove candidates had a decent knowledge of roads in Newcastle.

The locality test - dubbed the 'Geordie Knowledge' - was axed in 2015, the same year Uber arrived on Tyneside.

That year, 1,072 licences were granted by Newcastle City Council. A year earlier, just 142 were awarded.

Since then there's been a surge in drivers applying for a private licence, which the authority admits it is powerless to stop.

“We understand Hackney carriage drivers are concerned by the number of licences being granted to private hire operations but this has been seen in cities across the country because by law, local authorities are not able to impose a cap on the number of licences we issue," said a council spokesperson.

But one veteran driver told ChronicleLive his takings had halved since 2015 due to the abundance of drivers on the city's roads.

"I know loads who have left, proper old school drivers as well," claimed one private hire worker.

"It is longer hours now as more drivers equals less work."

"Hackney carriages used to be worth 50k now they are going for 5k - there are just too many taxis."

Hundreds of drivers campaigned for the once-compulsory 'Geordie Knowledge' test to be brought back.

A ChronicleLive poll showed the overwhelming number of readers also backed its return.

The council say the test was "re-assessed" in 2015.

"They brought back a limited one because of complaints, basically where is the airport, Central Station, St James Park etc - literally six places you had to know where they were, nothing like the one I did where you had to know routes and name every hotel in Jesmond," added the driver.

A Freedom of Information request to the council revealed over 3,000 new private hire applications from 2015-18.

Of those, under 100 were refused.

Despite the surge in recent years, figures indicate demand for a licence is dropping off.

Only 166 new private hire applications have so far been made in 2019. Last year there were 582.

"The increase in the number of private hire vehicles registered is reflected across the country following the introduction of legislation that deregulated how the taxi trade operated nationally," added a council spokesperson.

"Following recommendations from the law commissions report the council re-assessed the locality test in 2015 and introduced a topographical test followed by an interview-type test that is designed to improve driver licensing in the city as opposed to drivers obtaining their licence elsewhere.

"This allows the council to educate potential licensed drivers whilst giving the council powers to conduct appropriate checks.

"The locality test was maintained for hackney carriage and dual licensed drivers who pick up passengers from journeys that are not pre-planned and there is still a topographical test carried for all private hire driver applicants.

"If applications are unsuccessful they must seek further training in the attempt to pass the test or withdraw their application.”

Uber was approached for comment.

So when they had the old policy the council had 142 application, with the new policy they had 1072.

Yet the council say they are powerless to stop such a huge increase.

I would say stupid and gutless rather than powerless.

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IDFIMH

To be fair, reading between the lines of the council's statement there does seem to be an acknowledgement that they've watered things down a bit because of the cross-border issue - if they had a stiff knowledge for PHDs then easy-peasy to work cross-border, particularly as Uber obviously a dominant player on Tyneside these days.

So just like the Wolves-badged figures can't be compared to the size of Wolverhampton because most are working elsewhere, the Newcastle figures are meaningless if a reduction there would just mean an increase badged elsewhere, but still working in the city either way.

Just like Wolverhampton they decided to milk the cash cow.

This is political speak for we are jumping on the gravy train but need a scapegoat to hide that fact

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Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

It's all about the ££££ nothing more nothing less. Ask all licensing officers and they'll admit it's all about the £££