Drivers win exemption (From Malvern Gazette)

Drivers win exemption

10:17am Friday 3rd August 2007 in News

Private hire taxi drivers will not have to sit a knowledge test, following a decision from Malvern Hills District Council.

The council introduced tests on local knowledge and directions in May after Malvern firms complained about the influx of Worcester drivers taking their business and getting lost.

It applied to all new drivers and those renewing their licence after three years. But private hire firms complained about the ruling, stating their journeys are arranged well in advance, giving drivers plenty of time to plan routes.

At a meeting of the council's executive committee, members voted unanimously to drop the test for private hire firms, though it will still apply to local authority-owned hackney taxi drivers.

Complaints from customers will also result in drivers having to take the test.

Steve Box, of Fruitlands-based Steve's Cabs, is among those celebrating the decision: "I'm very pleased with this result, our journeys are pre-booked and most are long-haul to the airports, so it's not really necessary for us."

The council will also introduce private hire licences to replace existing dual driving licences, which enable drivers to work for hackney or private firms. The new licence will be issued on expiry of the existing ones.