Taxi Driver Online

Plymouth could scrap 'knowledge test' for taxi drivers

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/p ... st-8993601

Plans to turn Plymouth’s black cabs green and white are set to be scrapped along with the famous “knowledge” test for private hire drivers. Plymouth City Council could bin the proposals in a bid to solve a chronic shortage of cabbies.

The authority’s cabinet is being asked to remove the test requirement following a consultation earlier in the autumn which looked at changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. Cabinet members are also being asked to drop the requirement for green-and-white livery on hackney carriages, given cost-of-living constraints and a lack of appropriate vehicles available.

Cllr Sally Haydon, cabinet member for community safety, libraries, cemeteries and crematoria, said: “We had a good response from the trade and would like to thank them for their helpful input. We know that, like other areas of the local economy, they have been hit hard by fuel prices and the cost of living.

“This is one of the reasons why we are no longer requiring taxis to have the green-and-white livery. While it was a great idea, the reality is getting the white vehicles needed proved too difficult and expensive.”

The knowledge of Plymouth test assesses drivers’ knowledge of the quickest available routes, venues, tourist destinations and popular locations as well as the law and conditions of licence and customer care. It is an exam taken under supervised exam conditions.

In 2022, a council blunder in the policy wording about the knowledge test only applying to hackney carriage drivers led to an increase in people applying to become licensed private hire drivers. While there was less support from the trade about dropping the test, the Department of Transport recently issued best practice guidance which said that given technology used by taxi operators, the test should be removed for private hire drivers as they know their planned route in advance.

Cllr Haydon said: “We need more people in the trade. We need more drivers so that people feel they can get home after a great night out in Plymouth.

“We know there are bar and restaurant staff who struggle to get a ride home after an evening shift. We need to be more pragmatic and remove barriers to people becoming drivers – times have changed, drivers can use sat nav and apps on smartphones to help them navigate around our city. Modern dispatch systems send bookings direct to the drivers’ data pads, which have the inbuilt GPS navigation.”

The cabinet report highlights that the council also considered the outcomes of the Violence Against Women and Girls Commission where it was reported that the reduced numbers of taxis and private hire had an impact on the perceived safety of women and girls. Cllr Haydon said: “We are proud to have Purple Flag status, which recognises the fact this city is safe after dark, but being stuck for hours not being able to get home is not helping our residents or visitors. We hope these changes, if approved, will lead to more people becoming private hire drivers and help our residents as well as our pubs and restaurants.”

If the cabinet approves the proposals when it meets on January 8, the matter will go to the full council. A number of other proposals were put forward as part of a review into the council’s taxi and private hire policy, including to allow drivers to wear black jeans. These will be considered in due course by the licensing committee.

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IDFIMH

Madness.

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IDFIMH

Looks like it's being binned for PH drivers, and for new hackney drivers who have driven PH for at least 3 years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-67924200

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IDFIMH

Don't think this is any different to the link Sussex posted above, but I often find it easier to actually read these things by going through the posting process rather than simply reading the article

But note the generic use of the word 'taxi'. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but this reads like PHVs have the green and white livery (the green highlighted bit below) whereas pretty sure that was just an HC thing.

By HC I mean the ones that are allowed to *apply for hire*

But for any non-specialists reading this, it's surely a bit misleading.


Plymouth closer to scrapping taxi knowledge test for certain drivers

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/p ... ge-9024389

Councillors believe if the idea is approved and comes into force on 1 April, more taxis will become available

Some taxi drivers in Plymouth will no longer have to pass a local knowledge test if the city council approves a relaxation of the rules to encourage more people into the trade. Plymouth City Council's on Monday supported plans to remove the KOP (knowledge of Plymouth) test for ‘private hire’ drivers and the livery requirements for vehicles.

Visitors and residents in the city have been struggling to get taxis because of a shortage of drivers. Councillors believe that if the idea is approved and comes into force on 1 April, more taxis will become available.

Some 82 per cent of people who responded to a public consultation agreed that the distinctive green and white livery should be scrapped because it is “too expensive” for the trade. Drivers will continue to display an official door sign. Although there was less support (25 per cent) for the knowledge test to be scrapped, councillors felt that satnav systems which are mandatory for private hire drivers who have their routes transferred through an operator, made the test unnecessary.

Other taxis that are allowed to apply for hire or are available on ranks (called ‘hackney carriages’) will need to take the test, unless they have previously been a private hire driver for more than three years. Cllr Sally Hayden (Lab, St Budeaux), cabinet member for community safety, said taxis provide valuable support to people in the city but there had been increasing reports of people unable to get taxis home from nights out, or to and from work.

She said there needed to be an increase in availability to support the evening and night-time economy and ensure visitors and residents could move around the city safely. The Violence Against Women and Girls Commission, set up to prevent and deter these types of crime in Plymouth, say fewer taxis have an impact on the perceived safety of women and girls.

Cllr Hayden said the proposed changes had been looked at thoroughly to make sure this was a “safe policy.” Cllr Jemima Laing (Lab, Stoke ) said this was a “really positive” change as she had heard anecdotally how difficult it was for young woman to go out and enjoy themselves because they can’t find taxis. "We want to do anything we can to encourage more people into the trade,” she said.

Knowledge test for Plymouth PH drivers scrapped

Plans for taxis in Plymouth to have green and white livery have been scrapped by Plymouth City Council.

Private hire vehicles will also no longer have to pass a knowledge of Plymouth test and can rely on sat nav.

The changes follow a public consultation with drivers, businesses, disability groups and residents' associations last autumn.

Councillor Sally Haydon said it was important to "encourage more drivers into the trade".

Ms Haydon said ending the livery requirement would remove the financial burden of people investing in new vehicles and modern booking systems with inbuilt navigation allowed drivers to get from A to B quickly, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

Some people had reported being unable to get home from nights out or to and from work because of a shortage of drivers.

The Violence Against Women and Girls Commission recommended more taxis to make residents feel safe.

Councillor Keith Moore said he looked forward to other changes in the rules which included drivers being allowed to wear "a practical range of affordable attire" like black denim trousers or skirts.

Mr Moore said: "This demonstrates that we are listening to the public who are desperate for a reliable taxi service and also to drivers as this will support their day-to-day working."

Other taxis that are allowed to ply for hire or are available on ranks still need to take the knowledge of Plymouth test, unless they have previously driven private hire vehicles for more than three years.

The new rules take effect on Monday 1 April.

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IDFIMH