Minicab drivers face essay exams to prove their grasp of English

High Court blocks bid by Uber to stop mayor’s plan to improve standards and passenger safety

MINICAB drivers in London will be forced to pass a written English test, in a move that is expected to nearly halve the number of private hire vehicles on the capital’s roads.

Uber, the American car-booking company, yesterday lost a High Court bid to stop London mayor Sadiq Khan forcing all private hire drivers to undergo reading and writing tests, which he claims will “drive up standards and improve passenger safety”.

The rise of smartphone car-booking apps has led to a surge in the number of minicab drivers in the capital, with the number of licences issued by Transport for London rising from 61,200 in 2010 to 117,808 in February this year. Uber itself has more than 30,000 drivers in London.

While travellers have benefited from cheaper fares, Mr Khan has faced pressure to cut the number of minicabs, after complaints from London’s traditional black cab drivers, as well as concerns about congestion.

However, TfL is unable to place a cap on the number of licences issued, and critics say the tests, which include essays on subjects such as the aurora borealis and river pollution, are a ploy to reduce the number of minicabs on the road.

Documents submitted to the High Court by TfL show that the English tests, which will include writing, speaking, reading and listening exams, are likely to reduce the number of private hire drivers to 67,101 over the next three years – a fall of 43 per cent.

Transport sources suggested a huge drop in minicab numbers would make it harder for customers to find a car, and leave them with longer waits.

But Mr Khan said forcing drivers to have a better grasp of English “and understand information from passengers and licensing requirements is a vital part of ensuring passengers get the high standard of service”. He added: “This could include discussing a better route, talking about a medical condition, or ensuring every driver is fully up to date with new regulations.”

Under the plans, which come into force on September 30, all private hire drivers who do not have qualifications such as GCSEs, A-levels or NVQs taught in English will have to sit a two-hour language exam, which is expected to have a failure rate of some 40 per cent.

Uber argued the proposals would have a disproportionate impact on drivers from countries where English was not generally spoken and give rise to “indirect discrimination on grounds of race and nationality”.

But Mr Justice Mitting said TfL was entitled to require drivers to demonstrate compliance with the English language requirement and there was no practical alternative.

Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in London, said: “This is a deeply disappointing outcome for tens of thousands of drivers who will lose their livelihoods because they cannot pass an essay-writing test.”