Taxi drivers facing local‘Knowledge’test

The county’s taxi drivers could be asked to sit‘The Knowledge’test in future like their London counterparts.

Perth and Kinross Council is hoping to approve a requirement for drivers operating in the authority to pass a test, where they must prove they know the layout of the roads and the latest law for carrying passengers.

At the licensing committee meeting this Thursday, members will vote to bring changes agreed in a report the committee approved in October 2017.

From January 11, new applicants for a taxi/private hire driver licence will be required to take a 60-question mainly multiple choice test, asking them about street names, routes, landmark buildings, the highway code and testing their ability to do mental maths.

The pass mark would be 85 per cent, or 51 out of 60 right answers, with the applicants given three attempts to pass the test.

If an applicant doesn’t pass after three attempts, the council would deem the application as being “voluntarily withdrawn”and no refund would be given.

The price of an application for both a one year and a three year taxi driver’s licence will go up by £30 to cover the cost of the providing the test.

Other authorities expect their taxi drivers to perform similar exams and charge between £10 and £30 for the knowledge quiz.

At this stage it will be for new applicants only, giving Perth and Kinross Council’s licensing manager opportunity to observe how much time and resources are required to get drivers past the hurdle, but it is likely in future the need to sit the test would be extended to all.

•Letters page 22.