Taxi Driver Online

Hi,

I'm in St. Helens on Merseyside and will hopefully start driving next year. Whilst looking into getting my licence, I noticed that in St. Helens you have to gain a VRQ before they will grant you your licence.

Here's some info about the course:
http://www.wirral.gov.uk/minute/public/ ... _21388.pdf

Is this the norm throughout the UK, or is it just here?
And also, has anybody done the course? If so, how did you find it?

Thanks in advance,
Paul

It's a new one on me.

We have had twenty drivers do the VRQ and NVQ all in one hit. Lot of learning but they all say they have benefitted from it. The VRQ is tested by a two part multiple choice online test. Some of the questions are misleading and i felt not particularly relevant to a taxi or PHV situation. (asked about the carriage of dangerous goods....and i don't mean passengers...and what signs must be dispalyed on the outside of your vehicle.)
All our drivers passed with rates above 80% so couldn't have been too taxing for them.

Our training was through ABA Training of Sudbury, they were very good and knew how to coax the best out of even the shyest driver!

Many of the councils are heading this way with the requirement for a formal qualification to compliment the renewal of a badge, problem is as soon as it becomes compulsory, then the funding available for it is removed. This can add another 'fee' into the process.

Our council have opted for the NVQ and tried to persusade everyone to do it as part of a Quality Taxi Partnership. Funding is being made available by GoSkills for all, so far they have had about 200 sign up. In time i suppose they will make the NVQ compulsory for the renewal of a licence (and again that will remove the availability of funding).

DAP

im licensed in st helens and warrington and st helens im in the middle of doing it for the sake of it. a lot of LA are bringing it in instead of a local knowledge test

Hi guys,

Thanks for your comments. DAP - When your lads did the course, did they have to go into a classroom, or could the course be done at home - like a highway code type of thing - or is it an actual college course that must be attended on site?

I don't mind doing this, I just think it might be difficult being in full time employment.

Thanks again,
Paul

when i spoke to them it looks like you can do it in your time at class or via dvd phone 01512275181 merseylearn these do the course for st helens and send you out the info and see what way of the studying suits you

Thanks for the quick reply Dinkidoo.

I'll call them and see what they say.

Cheers,
Paul

We did it in our drivers rest room. Had a number of compulsory attendance sessions with the tutor mid week with the 20 split into two groups. Helped with the remaining drivers being able to cover the circuit work, and night drivers being able to attend the afternoon session without missing out on work. Each session lasted about two hours. A lot of it was things that drivers already knew, but underpinned their understanding. we used the local licensing officer to deliver the unit on licensing. He took a lot of grief and gripes from the drivers which was quite good to watch.

There were also handbooks taking them through each session and as a memory jogger for revision before the test.

None of it was rocket sceince and capable of being done by any driver with a reasonable standard of driving and customer care.


DAP

Thanks DAP, thats a big help.

I'll give them a ring and get on with it. Hopefully i'll be one of you guys in no time .

Thanks,
Paul

Unfortunately sitting in a room and taking an exam wont make you a cab driver, but in fairness it makes licensing authorities think they are doing something worthwhile.

regards

CC

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

That's what I first thought but I suppose if it's free, and it can be done at home in your own time then it won't do any harm.

I have had one thought though, will it make your insurance any cheaper or is that just wishful thinking?

Paul

I am afraid that is just wishful thinking, many a local authority had the wool pulled over their eyes by the DSA when introducing taxi driving standard tests, cheaper insurance was promised, the only thing was, they forgot to ask the insurance companies!

regards

CC

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

is this the same as the btech...?

Yes the VRQ is the same as the BTec

DAP

cheers DAP
once again various areas calling things by different names...!
thought the B-TECH was now the industry standard..?

hear say.. says its tied into Bryan Roland or a company he as shares in ..apparently...lol