Taxi Driver Online

Part of taxi test may be scrapped

HALF of the taxi drivers' "knowledge" test could be abolished in Sefton.

The exam, which tests on common routes in the borough, is believed to have led to a reduction in private hire drivers willing to take on the job. If the proposals are agreed, it means private hire drivers will only have to revise local landmarks.

And while private hire operators welcomed the news, bodies representing drivers claimed scrapping part of the test would lead to lower standards.

Luke McCormick, of South Sefton Hackney Drivers' Association, said: "Prior to the test, some drivers were acquiring licences merely as a stopgap until they got a 'proper job'.

"Since the introduction of the test and other measures, the standard of drivers and vehicles has improved noticeably. It ensures that new drivers are motivated and have at least a basic understanding of some of the laws that will apply to them. The test ensures that the council can measure that knowledge."

Tony Holmes, of Southport Owners and Drivers Private Hire Association, added that the test gave the trade a sense of professionalism.

The test was introduced in 1993 at the request of hackney carriage representatives. Part one of the test consists of 20 questions on landmarks and licensing and driving rules. Part two, which would be removed under the proposals, asks applicants six questions based on Merseyside routes, taken from a bank of 40 questions.

Along with checks on criminal records, driving history and health, the test forms part of the council's measures to ensure each applicant is a "fit and proper person" for the job..

But private hire firms claimed the test was a "back door" method of deterring potential private hire drivers at the behest of the hackney carriage trade, which has council-imposed restrictions on numbers.

Some firms said the test was irrelevant because destinations are not confined to one borough, and directions could be sought from customers.

Trevor Jones, of the North West Taxi Association, said: "As a person who worked a private hire car and a hackney cab for 20 years before the test was implemented, I can honestly say that it is a barrier to this trade that is not needed. The technology available renders it obsolete.

"A training day would be more appropriate, as we find that some drivers who have passed the test cannot even change a wheel."

Sefton's licensing and regulatory committee is urged to approve the change on Monday.

_________________
IDFIMH

An excellent example of the many conflicting interests in the trade.

The PH ops want lower standards because they want more drivers.

The drivers want to keep the test because it means less other drivers.

The HCs want to keep the test because it means less PH.

And the NWTA wants to dump the test because its a barrier to the trade.

Eh? I can't quite work out the last bit, but maybe Trevor Jones is one of these HC owners who can't get enough drivers, and perhaps the test also applies to HC drivers as well, although it's not explicitly stated.

Or at least that's the only explanation I can think off.

But the name Trevor Jones rings a bell, anyone know who anything about him, I'm sure I've seen him on some taxi forum or other.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Maybe he's related to Tom Jones and he's not really a cabby but an entertainer? There used to be an entertainer of sorts in here called a MR T from Sefton. He said his name is Trevor so I don't think you need to look any further.

On a serious note, I think it should be left up to the individual Private hire companies to determine if they want their drivers to take a knowledge test. I can only speak for my own authority which has a Hackney knowledge test but perhaps every hackney driver throughout the UK should have to take a test, unless there are special circumstances relating to the topology of an area which might make a knowledge test meaningless.

Regards

JD

Quite possibly true, but why then don't those bodies ask the council to bring in the DSA taxi test?

To me it looks like the HC owners are getting a bit jumpy that drivers will choose to go PH, instead of driving their cabs, as it will be easier to get licensed.

Still as we are told that Sefton has no SUD, then they shouldn't be missed, should they?

_________________
IDFIMH

I'm quite a fan of route tests, but what is the point of testing drivers on areas to which they are not licensed?

_________________
IDFIMH

Its a complete waste of time, a sefton driver learning the street knowlege test for sefton . Every one is aware he will spend all his time In liverpool. He should realy do the liverpool street knowege test . Then he would have something to moan about!.

Well I'm all for knowledge test for both PH and HC drivers, I think if the qualitative aspect is emphasised then it ensures that drivers make a decent crust, instead of just those holding plates, as per restricted numbers.

But streetcar makes a good point in that any topo test must be tailored to the needs of the particular area, ie if the local trade gets a lot of work to particular out-of-area locations then ensuring that they only know their area is to an extent pointless.

But in the normal scenario, drivers should have a good knowledge of their main area, and only a skeleton knowledge loctions futher away.

I think that's how many tests are conducted presently, and this seems sensible.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Well fancy me forgetting that, after all, I only read that Mr T's name was Trevor last night

And he still hasn't told me which description best mathches him, perhaps that's because it's all of them

So, just a reminder:

From the unions in New York:

Under the current scheme in place in New York City, more than 44,000 workers who drive the city's taxicabs are being blatantly exploited by a cartel of owners who have manipulated the system to deprive the drivers of income and benefits...

From a Dublin journalist:

Drivers who didn't have a licence, so-called "cosies", were forced to pay £250 a week for the right to work. They had to pay that money to the licence owner, before earning a penny for themselves. To own a licence was to be a little baron, with the right to extract money from hard-working cosies and to harass [PH] drivers. Some people owned several licences.


From a Cambridge councillor:

In other cases, the holder of the licence merely 'rented' the right to operate the cab to a succession of other people, sometimes to more than one person at once. There are even instances of people who hold more than one licence who make money not by driving but by 'renting' out their licences

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

We should envy the new york cab driver , in liverpool people are paying over 350 pounds per week. for the privilage of driving, a shed round 65 hours per week. Wonderfull this limiting taxi numbers .

Not being funny mate, but are you my long lost brother?

_________________
IDFIMH

Not being funny mate, but are you my long lost brother?
No, just a clone or clown, whichever you prefer....mrT

So what is the situation in Sefton Mr T, or are you ashamed to tell us the truth?

_________________
IDFIMH

Mr T will not answer your question . so i will . sefton is a small local authority north of liverpool . It has 271 hackney carriage licenses and a massive 1540 p h licenses . most of these privete hire vehicles operate in Liverpool . Liverpool because of its restricted policy on taxis, has a massive un met demand for taxi s so much so that p h operators in sefton can not recruit enough drivers, to satify the demand , so like Kirkby, another close authority they are scrapping the street knowlege test , to make it simpler to come a taxi driver . What is the matter with mr T, just got off a 10 hour flight .

Mr T will not answer your question . so i will . sefton is a small local authority north of liverpool . It has 271 hackney carriage licenses and a massive 1540 p h licenses . most of these privete hire vehicles operate in Liverpool . Liverpool because of its restricted policy on taxis, has a massive un met demand for taxi s so much so that p h operators in sefton can not recruit enough drivers, to satify the demand , so like Kirkby, another close authority they are scrapping the street knowlege test , to make it simpler to come a taxi driver . What is the matter with mr T, just got off a 10 hour flight .

Yes jet lagged, 350 aweek ..for.. a..bin..you must be one of the one's who think they are driving a bumper car,The alwayes forget to tell the full story ,what is it a bump a year or is it two,.......may I suggest that your full title suould be A STREETCAR NAMED DISIRE.....mrT....P.S. ARE YOU ONE OF THE ONE'S THAT HAS RENTED MY PLACE IN FLORIDA..GOOD ISN'T