New cabbies given extra time to sit Knowledge test

Councillors have agreed to allow Perth and Kinross taxi drivers up to nine months to sit The Knowledge test.

The tests have been suspended because of COVID-19.

The decision was taken at a virtual meeting of PKC’s licensing committee on Thursday.

In January 2019 a test was introduced to ensure a high standard for all new taxi/private hire driver applications to PKC.

The driver’s knowledge test comprises 60 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 45-51 they can resit the sections where they failed to achieve the required score.

After three failed attempts the application is deemed to be withdrawn and no refund is given.

Council officers brought a report to Thursday’s meeting recommending new taxi/private hire drivers be allowed up to six months to sit the test.

Prior to the meeting PKC officers were unable to grant any licences because new drivers have to sit the test face-to-face in a council office.

Due to lockdown this is not possible and the resulting backlog is mounting.

A council officer said they had six new applicants and 17 drivers waiting to sit partial/full resits.

The council officer said that she hoped eventually drivers “can sit the test and socially distance in a large room”.

Cllr Mike Williamson asked what would happen if there was a second spike of COVID-19 and if the timescale to sit the test would need to be delayed beyond six months.

The council officer agreed this was a possibility.

Cllr Andrew Parrott suggested the timescale be extended to nine months, saying: “It gives more scope. Even if you say nine months we do not need to leave it for that.”

The officer agreed that if the situation changes they could change the timescale for sitting the test.

Convener Chris Ahern and the councillors on the committee accepted the officers’ recommendations with the amendment to extend the timescale for sitting the test to nine months.

Even if you say nine months we do not need to leave it for that