Local knowledge test for taxi drivers dropped (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Local knowledge test for taxi drivers dropped

1:48pm Monday 26th April 2010 in Cotswolds news By Andy Woolfoot

TAXI drivers in the Cotswolds no longer have to take a written exam proving they have local knowledge if they work for a private hire firm.

Several Cotswold-based firms had appealed to Cotswold District Council’s Licensing committee saying that as most of their journeys involved trips out of the area or long-distance hauls to airports the test was not necessary for their drivers and was slowing down their recruitment process.

Committee.embers agreed at a meeting on Monday that the Area Knowledge Test, which consists of 20 questions about the district written by licensing officers, was not necessary for private hire firms.

Kate Bishop, CDC’s head of public protection, said as they can only carry out pre-booked journeys they would have time to look up the best route to the destination if it was not known to the driver.

The hackney carriage licensed taxis, which can pick up fares from the street, will still have to undergo the test.