Taxi Driver Online

Desperado alert

Reading between the lines, I'm guessing the applicant here may have a slightly chequered employment history. Which is perhaps demonstrated by how he's approaching all this

LICENSING COMMITTEE INFORMATION SHEET
19 FEBRUARY 2025
Exemption from Policy – Street Knowledge Test
Applicant: - Kashif Iftikhar
INFORMATION NOTE

Mr Iftikhar is seeking an exemption from the Committee Policy that states that an applicant for a Taxi Driver or Private Hire Car Driver licence must pass the street knowledge test.

The test aims to ensure that all taxi and private hire drivers have a knowledge of the city including the layout of its roads and the location of landmarks.

Mr Iftikhar has previously sat the street knowledge test on 12 separate occasions but did not pass.

It should be noted that on 27/09/2022 Mr Iftikhar offered a sum of money of £700-£800 to the Enforcement Officer who was invigilating the test, to be passed and again on 08/11/2022 Mr Iftikhar again offered the same sum to the Civic Licensing
Standards Officer who was invigilating that test, to be passed. Both offers were immediately refused.

The Committee has before it an email from Mr Iftikhar indicating the grounds under which he is seeking the exemption.

Should the Committee be minded to grant the exemption Mr Iftikhar is aware that he will be required to submit an application for the Grant of a Taxi Driver or Private Hire Car Driver Licence as he is not currently the holder of such a licence.

It should be further noted that Mr Iftikhars exams of 08/11/2022 and 15/10/2024 were not marked as he was noted using his mobile phone to look up answers during the tests.
Mr Iftikhar has failed all 4 sections of the test on every occasion he has sat it except one (on 12/09/2023).

Mr Iftikhar previously applied to the committee for the same exemption on 03 May 2023 which the committee determined to refuse.

Letter from applicant.

Sat 19/10/2024 13:58
Dear license committee,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to request your support in obtaining a taxi license from the Aberdeen City License Committee.
Due to personal circumstances, I am currently unemployed. I believe that working as a taxi driver would be a suitable opportunity for me, especially since I have over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, 3 years as a delivery driver in Aberdeen, and 6 months training with Rainbow Taxi. I have also communicated with the Job Centre about pursuing a
taxi license, as I believe it will provide me with a more stable income.
Unfortunately, I have struggled with the knowledge test, particularly in understanding street signs and navigation. I have held my driving license for 13 years without any points or penalties. Given my background and the urgent need to provide for my family, I humbly request that the committee consider granting me a taxi license without requiring the test.
I am committed to ensuring a good quality of life for my family and children and believe this opportunity will help us greatly.
Thank you for considering my request. I appreciate your support.
Sincerely,
[Kashif iftikhar]

Naturally the P&J has managed to shoehorn in the predictable stuff about Uber and the knowledge test etc. So the bit at the end is as per presented on the website, but obviously the comments on the P&J's site aren't included here

Indeed, but thick as pigs poo as well.

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IDFIMH

attempted bribery of an official isn't that a criminal offence ?

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

This article just shows how poor the local press is in Aberdeen

This exam has proved contentious over the years, with opponents claiming it’s an outdated barrier to entering the trade – arguing it is contributing to Aberdeen’s night-time shortages.

Had the lazy journalist bothered his backside and did he research he would have found out the test WAS modernised in Dec.

The Street Knowledge Test for taxi drivers in Aberdeen is changing from 10 December this year. For details of the new test visit: https://orlo.uk/PXdtC

Above search took me all of 10 seconds.

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So busy night tonight??

Maybe not so much 'lazy' journalism, Mr GraniteTaxi, as selective journalism

To be fair, maybe the revised knowledge test hasn't made much substantive difference in terms of a barrier to entry, but you'd think that the article would have at least mentioned the change. If only because not mentioning it is a hostage to fortune in debate. But, of course, the P&J acts as a bit of a gatekeeper as regards discussion of this kind

The test was outdated and this comes down to the council not touching it in years.

The new test has end to end streets, you need to name one street in the middle. The previous one had one street and you needed to name end to end.
They have shortened the routes & slimmed down the places of interested and removed places that no longer exist. They have taken away the highway code completely.
These tests are done in part 1, 2 & 3, pass part 1 and fail 2 you don't need to do part 1 again.
Last time I heard the test dated were booked up till mid/end March

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So busy night tonight??

Nothing's set in stone, Mr Granite

(Although according to Google, granite is a rock rather than stone )

After the unmet demand survey, the SKT won't be going anywhere.

Trade know we struggle at peak times, but every busy town/city are in the same boat.

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So busy night tonight??

Thanks, Mr GT - I suspect you're right, in the short- to medium-term at least.

(And please note my lame attempt at a joke was alluding to the changes already made, and not about any future SKT reform )

But surely the above will mean only long streets are included in the test.

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IDFIMH

No

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So busy night tonight??

Well how do you get a street in the middle if it doesn't have one?

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IDFIMH

The streets are selected by the council and will have what is at each end. You name street in middle

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So busy night tonight??