Just eight out of the last 133 applicants passed
The knowledge test for Bristol private hire drivers could be axed(Image: Getty Images)
Private hire drivers in Bristol will no longer be required to know thousands of routes and roads under city council plans.
Pre-booked cabbies would not need to take “the knowledge”, which tests them on the quickest way between a passenger pick-up and drop-off.
Of the 133 tests this year by applicants hoping to become private hire drivers, only eight have passed them successfully, according to a report to Bristol City Council’s public safety and protection committee.
The depth of local knowledge required has become a “significant barrier” to people entering the profession and, coupled with the increased reliability of sat nav technology for journeys that are already known in advance, licensing officers are suggesting scrapping that part of the entry exam.
The changes would not affect “the knowledge” for drivers of hackney carriage taxis, which can be flagged down on the street.
A report to the committee on Tuesday, June 3, said: “Concerns have been raised that sections of the test are no longer relevant.
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“All private hire journeys are pre-booked, and the vast majority of drivers rely on satellite navigation devices.
“As such the current requirement to know the location of certain premises or roads is outdated.
“The level of detailed local knowledge required to pass the test is significant and represents a significant barrier to entering the trade.
“No change is proposed to the format of the hackney carriage knowledge test in light of the fact that they are available for public hire and as such will not always know the destination in advance of the journey.”
The 90-minute test for private hire applicants, which takes place at the council’s offices at 100 Temple Street, comprises 100 questions chosen randomly by a computer.
They must not only achieve minimum pass marks in all 10 categories – four or five out of 10 questions in each – but also answer at least 75 questions correctly overall.
The committee report said Department for Transport (DfT) guidance was updated in November 2023 to say: “Given the availability, reliability and ease of use of sat nav systems, licensing authorities should not require any topographical knowledge or navigational tests for private hire vehicle drivers.”
The report said: “In light of the DfT guidance and the significant advancements of satellite navigation technology since the test was first introduced, officers recommend that the topographical knowledge sections are removed from the test.”
This would mean applicants no longer needing to know exact locations and routes to clubs, pubs, restaurants, hotels, places of interest or the district of a particular road.
It said the sections remaining in the test would be safety, including child sexual exploitation, general road safety and how to calculate change, policy & legislation, and equality.
The report said these should also be strengthened with a wider range of questions and topics which protect public safety, such as disability awareness, planning routes using navigation devices, conflict avoidance, and what to do if racially abused or being subjected to other abusive comments or hate speech.
It said these areas were supported by the new DfT guidance.
The report added: “Officers consider that the amendments to the private hire knowledge test would make the test more relevant to the trade.
“It would ensure applicants had a good understanding of their role and responsibilities as a licensed private hire driver and therefore ensure the safety of the travelling public.”
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