Taxi Driver Online

Taxi Tests Not Easy to Pass

Letters, Oxford Mail;
27th July 2008

I was extremely interested to read Derek Merry's letter where he challenges a reader's comments on foreign cabbies (Oxford Mail, July 22).

He then claims that foreign drivers are extremely well prepared to pass Oxford City Council's taxi knowledge test, with just four weeks training in his academy. I am surprised at Mr Merry's apparent lack of knowledge of his subject.

His pupils surely need to be made aware that there is a vast difference in a taxi (black cab) entrance exam which he initially referred to - I guarantee that all his pupils would fail with his claim of just four weeks' training - and a private hire entrance exam which he went on to refer to, which drivers could possibly pass with just four weeks' training.

The Oxford black cab exam is extremely difficult to pass - I believe only about 18 per cent of candidates get through.

The private hire exam is much more relaxed, with a pass rate of about 85 per cent.

In any event, the details of the exam referred to by Mr Merry are certainly nothing like reality.

Oxford's hackney carriage and private hire trades employ drivers from all four corners of the world.

We all work together providing a two-tier service, one (the taxi) working the street and rank circuit, the other (private hire) serving telephone and advance bookings.

However, Mr Merry's letter shows he is more concerned with fast tracking foreign drivers into a service, where vulnerable members of the public need the protection of the UK's extensive driving and criminal record checks.

The requirement that drivers of our taxis and private hire vehicles need to satisfy regular enhanced Criminal Records Bureau and DVLA checks must be paramount and must be retained at all cost.

If I need a three-year check by using the UK's own data recording systems, then so should everyone else attempting to enter one or other of the trades from wherever they come from or whoever trains them.

Alan Woodward, Secretary, City of Oxford Licensed Taxicab Association (COLTA)

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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