Taxi Driver Online

Hello All,

I'm new here, but I hope you can help / give some advice.

I have been driving a taxi for a while now, and my wife decided a bit if extra money would be great, and was offered the ability to do some part time work.

We applied for the drivers licence at our local council (North Warwickshire) at an extreme cost of over £150.

She passed everything except the Group 2 medical standard on eyesight, explained as;

Visual Accuity in better eye 6/9 - she is 6/5 (better than perfect)
Visual Accuity in other eye 6/12 - she is 6/24 (slightly under)
Unaided Visual Accuity 3/60 - she is 6/6 (Perfect)

So she was told she was not a fit and proper person to drive a taxi?

We appealed to the local council, as this is not law, only a DVLA guidline that Group 2 standards be applied to Taxi / Private Hire drivers,and the appeal was today.

The council point blank refused the badge.

I realise that I could appeal to the magistrates court, but the costs involved, especially if we lose make this a very unlikely proposition.

I am lost for words, really, my wife has driven an ambulance for this county for 5 years or more, been driving for over 10 years, no accidents ever, no convictions (driving or otherwise), her eyesight is without a doubt better than mine, yet no badge?

She was told if she pulled her poor eye out with a spoon she would have passed.

What should I do?

Thanks

Tony

The term 'fit and proper' is a legal term, so it's not neccessarily a slight on your wife.

However there have been many battles over this Group 2 standard, but I don't think I know a council that has backed down.

Have you tried for another medical, sort of a second opinion?

_________________
IDFIMH

Yes, Sge went to her own doctor, who passed her fit, but the council refused to accept his opinion, which was in fact wrong, but nonetheless, was written on headed notepaper.

Thanks