swannee wrote:
65. Taxi drivers need a good working knowledge of the area for which they are licensed, because taxis can be hired immediately, directly with the driver, at ranks or on the street. Many licensing authorities require prospective taxi-drivers to pass a test of local topographical knowledge as a condition of first grant of a licence. Mandatory testing of topographical knowledge is best practice although the stringency of the test should reflect the complexity or otherwise of the local geography, on the principle of ensuring that barriers to entry are not unnecessarily high."
So now, where do you stand with regard to tightening quality controls to restrict driver entry? The guidance here is quite clear as opposed to the sections which cover quantity controls which make no recommendation at all.
Well it does say that
mandatory testing of topo knowledge is
best practice, but it doesn't say quite say that about restricted numbers.
But clearly the ethos of the BPG is about balancing the stringency of licensing requirements with the public interest, and it's self-evident that topo tests are in the public interest, but clearly not to the point that the "barrier to entry" does not benefit the public and acts only to overregulate the trade.
Thus how does restricted numbers stand as regards benefiting the public, particularly as compared to the self-evident benefit to taxi licence holders?
And I'm glad you highlighted the phrase "barriers to entry not being unnecessarily high".
So if the average barrier to entry for a taxi proprietor in Ednburgh is £10k for a vehicle and £40k for a plate, doesn't this demonstrate that barriers to entry are unnecessarily high?
And to repeat an earlier point, if this BPG is as irrelevant as is being made out by some then why bother disputing its application to restricted numbers?
Does your post mean you do think it is relevant, swannee?
Login
Register
FAQ
