Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers face language tests
Taxi drivers in Wrexham will face tests of their English language skills, basic arithmetic and knowledge of the area.
Town councillors have backed proposals that anyone applying for a taxi licence must show a command of "basic" written and spoken English.

The move follows licence applications from people who do not speak English.

A growing number of immigrants live in Wrexham, including up to 10,000 Poles - many of whom moved after Poland joined the European Union in 2004.

The council said it was impossible to monitor exactly how many immigrants were in the area.


On which road is Wrexham football ground?
Question to taxi licence applicants
But it is thought around a quarter of Polish immigrants entering Wales head for Wrexham and neighbouring Flintshire.

The numbers have grown so much that North Wales Police are considering recruiting Polish-speaking officers.

There is a also a vibrant Portuguese community in the town.

Wrexham Council said it had a duty to ensure it only issued taxi licences to "fit and proper" applicants.


It said a command of basic written and spoken English was essential for a driver to "safely and effectively discharge his duties".

A list of 100 questions have been drafted, including: "Where is Mecca Bingo?" and "On which road is Wrexham football ground?"

Applicants will be expected to answer 25 out of 30.

As well as the tests, any recent criminal convictions will also be scrutinised, and applicants must meet specified medical standards.

However, the test was not welcomed by one Wrexham taxi firm.

The owner, who did not want to be named, said there was already a shortage of drivers in the town.

He added: "The problem is that all the police checks every driver has to go through currently take at least 12 weeks to come through - very often longer.

"This has led to a shortage of drivers because people can't afford to be out of work for that long.

"I understand that drivers should be able to speak English, of course. But if people are also going to have to wait to take a test, then wait for their results, the problem is going to get worse.

"The whole process needs to be speeded up."









Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/w ... 187306.stm

Published: 2006/11/27 18:04:10 GMT

© BBC MMVI

I see at least some councils are trying to get their act together?

Regards

JD

brighton is bringing in a english test soon.
about time two.

Will terry have to take it?

_________________
Former taxi driver

talking of him.
im now a member.
curtosey of the firm.

brothers united.

About time!.

_________________
stressed controller!!!

Latest on the wrexham English tests.
_____________________________________

Daily Post (Liverpool)

March 26, 2007, Monday

HEADLINE: WALES: Cabbies facing up to English exams

BYLINE: STEVE BAGNALL

WOULD-be cabbies are being asked to take a test to make sure they can speak enough English.

Council bosses in Wrexham consulted lawyers before introducing the exam. The north east Wales town has seen the number of immigrants soar in recent years.

And taxi firms say a number of the town's new residents are trying to secure work as a cabbie. Some taxi bosses objected to the tests at first fearing they would put applicants off.

But Wrexham council's licensing officer Alan Davies said they were necessary to ensure passenger safety.

Anyone wishing to become a taxi driver in the country must correctly answer 25 out of 30 questions. Yesterday Mr Davies said: "We have introduced this for the safety of the public.

"We need to knowif a person is suitable to the job, if they know where locations are and if they know what is expected of them.

"All applicants now have to go through this." Apollo Taxi office manager Debra Belton welcomed the move.

She said: "There is a language barrier with some of the people who have come to Wrexhamand the knowledge test is reasonable to help ensure they can do the job."

So far around five applicants have taken the oral test and passed since it was introduced in January.

If an applicant fails the initial test they are allowed a resit.

But if they fail that they must wait 12 months before they can apply again.
_____________________________

It is not just a question as to whether they can speak the language, they should be able to read it as well.

Does that sound daft - well in Newport Gwent, a lot of the drivers could speak the lingo, but could not read it.

So how do you find the streets if you cannot read the names.

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

In other words they don't give a monkeys about service, just rental money.

_________________
IDFIMH

Its in their interest to employ drivers, quality controls can sometimes hinder that process.

Regards

JD

If we had more quality control the trade would not have the poor reputation that it has got. To many companies without enough work employ too many drivers, (the greed factor) and that is not in the interest of the drivers or the public.

If we had more companies that took a pride and focused on the way that their drivers and cars turned up, dress sense/clean car etc, the businesses would increase their turnover. Now all the public are asking for is that the driver can speak and read our language, just a few adjustments and the operators would be taking on good quality drivers right left and centre.

To many are still operating in the dark ages. Up the ante, offer something that your competitors are not. You can then be as greedy as you like, but it will be justified.

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

Another council getting it act together?

http://www.thisisbasingstoke.co.uk/disp ... nglish.php

_________________
IDFIMH

Now can someone explain this.

Wrexham is in Wales. The national language is Welsh.

So why are they not being asked to take Welsh language tests?

We are being swamped by bureaucracy, council licensing teams are building bigger empires by the week and demanding higher and higher charges for licensing drivers.

And what are these empires doing about the illegal unlicensed operations? Sod all. Will not gather evidence themselves and won't accept any evidence from anyone else.

_________________
A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

I hope they don't demand you take a spelling test

_________________
Our safety is Paramount

Members of the Basingstoke Hackney Carriage Federation welcomed the plans but warned the committee that some of the new test regulations may not work in practice.

Is a new era dawning in quality controls?

Regards

JD

_________________
Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.