Perthshire Advertiser

Tough tests for taxi drivers hitting home

- KATHRYN ANDERSON

Councillor­s have stepped up measures to ensure new Perth and Kinross taxi drivers know exactly where they are going and the rules of the road.

PKC’s licensing committee convener believes taxi drivers have a vital part to play in representi­ng Perth as first impression­s count.

Last year a test was introduced to help ensure a high standard for all new applicatio­ns.

In January 2019, a report was submitted and approved by the licensing committee which resulted in the introducti­on of the taxi/private hire car driver knowledge test. The committee agreed to introduce the test for both renewals and new applicatio­ns but agreed it would be introduced for new applicatio­ns only initially.

This was to allow the licensing manager to monitor staff time and resources required to undertake the knowledge test.

On Thursday (February 20) the committee approved a motion that any licence holder brought before the committee then take part or all of the test dependent on their reasons for being brought before the committee.

The taxi/private hire driver’s knowledge test comprises 60 questions divided into six sections with questions relating to public buildings and local landmarks; street names; routes; knowledge of the Highway Code; the conditions of the licence, and arithmetic­al and general questions.

Applicants need to answer 51 questions correctly to pass but if a driver scores between 45 and 51, rather than resit the entire test they are given the chance to resit the parts where they failed to achieve the required score. After three failed attempts the applicatio­n is deemed to be voluntaril­y withdrawn and no refund is given.

Since the test was launched, PKC has received 62 applicatio­ns with 85 per cent passing so far. Out of the 62 applicatio­ns, 23 passed first time, 17 second time, 12 are awaiting resits and eight have voluntaril­y withdrawn after either not turning up or failing their third attempt.

After the meeting, convener, Cllr Chris Ahern, said:“We do not wish to deter people from being a driver but often a visitor’s first impression of Perth is a taxi driver.”

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