Wolverhampton cabbies forced to take four-hour licence test
Tougher tests for taxi drivers have been re-introduced after workers threatened the council with more go-slow protests.
A basic road skills test replaced a more comprehensive examination two years ago – resulting in thousands of drivers from across the UK flocking to Wolverhampton to apply for licences.
Campaigners claimed the move had led to a drop in standards and earned city taxi drivers a bad reputation.
Almost 6,000 drivers have been given private hire licences by Wolverhampton Council in the last 12 months, with the large majority working outside the city, some as far afield as Southampton, Manchester and Sheffield.
The numbers have multiplied year on year, with just 880 private hire licences issued in 2015, compared with 2,240 last year, and soaring to 4,027 in the first eight months of this year. The council maintained the spike was due to a faster online application process.
The Wolverhampton Private Hire Drivers Association (WPHDA), which led protests in the city, say there is already evidence that a significant number of drivers are failing the new four-hour test.
The WPHDA organised a ‘go-slow’ last autumn, bringing the city centre to a standstill.
Councillors have now agreed to implement changes to the licence application test.
These include a pre-test screening of a driver’s ability to speak and understand conversational English.
Ebrahim Suleman, WPHDA vice-chairman, said: “We had to fight for it but the council agreed to sit down and talk in the end. The changes were negotiated over many weeks but already we have heard that a number of drivers are failing the new test.”
“This is very good news for taxi drivers in Wolverhampton who have unfairly got a bad reputation for low standards as a result of what’s happened, and which has had a knock-on effect on our insurance.
“It’s also good news for the public who can now expect a safer journey and better service from their taxi drivers.”
Licensing committee chairman Councillor Alan Bolshaw said: “I expect this spirit of working together to continue in the future through the existing private hire trade group meetings.”
