Taxi drivers face English tests
Taxi Cabs Marlowes Hemel hempstead
Taxi drivers could be forced to take English tests to prove they can communicate with their passengers.
New Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers in Wellingborough could also face compulsory maths tests to ensure they are confident in taking payment and giving change.
The new proposals have been put forward by Wellingborough Council as part of plans to improve standards.
Only Hackney Carriage drivers are currently asked to undertake a knowledge test of routes across the town.
This test also acts as a basic English test.
Barry Liffen, chairman of the Wellingborough Hackney Carriage Association, said: “If it’s simple maths tests then I think it’s fair.
“I think drivers have got to have a basic command of English to be able to communicate with passengers.
“But, if they are asking us to sit a GCSE in English then I think it’s going a bit too far.
“Anything that increases professionalism and confidence in taxi drivers in Wellingborough has got to be good, but I don’t think there have been many complaints about drivers in Wellingborough.”
Under the proposed new policy taxi drivers could have to take advanced driving tests if there are complaints about their driving or if they are involved in collisions.
Karl Morrissey, 46, was a taxi driver for 27 years in Wellingborough before leaving the profession this year.
He said: “I agree with anything that is going to get the standards up.
“There are so many people of different nationalities coming in to this line of work, but the drivers need to be able to understand all of their passengers. I agree with the maths tests because passengers would not be happy if they were short-changed.”
Councillors will discuss the plans at a meeting on Monday. People will then be able to comment on the proposed new policy during a period of public consultation.
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Comments
There are 15 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Deluxe
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 10:26 AMAs a member of the private hire (taxi) community, I have put forward comments regarding the proposed changes to the taxi and private hire policy. Here, however, my first comment goes to Isabel Ringer (above). Please allow me to rebuild a level of trust in the private hire community. Deluxe is 'a step above the rest' when it comes to building relationships with customers and we'll prove to you that 'drivers' are not to be labeled with the same sticker. Google 'deluxe wellingborough'. robin hood: EVERYONE will be told to take the test! This has nothing to do with race. I'm 100% English. Many of us are and we all face the same new rules. In the words of an Australian Prime minister, new-comers to this country have the right to work (once permitted). They have the right to worship how they want, to take up lawful employment, to live within our community by our (rules and) laws. If the foreign element of the community does not want this (and this includes Wellingborough's new proposed taxi and private hire policy), then, they also have the right to leave and seek whatever they are looking for elsewhere. To all: The new Taxi and Private Hire Policy (proposed) is inovative, forwrd moving, giant step in the modernisation of Wellingborough's transport community. It offers a 'green' incentive and will help secure the futures of many small businesses in our town. To stand in the way of progress now will only harm your own pockets later, as if any of us need that! The overall changes will affect the transport community whether English or not but the biggest issue here is that the propsed new policy will help secure you, the customer! Deluxe Private Hire
Isabel Ringer
Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 11:46 PMA Wellingborough taxi driver was responsible for killing my Father-in-law & I have no respect for any of them. They are a law to themselves when on the road & I wouldn't trust any taxi-driver apart from Robert deNiro. Mind you he was a physcopath!
Scott652
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 03:06 PMThey going to do personality and driving tests as well? Rather than basic English tests they should go back and resit there driving tests. Getting worse the amount of cab drivers still using mobile phones, not indicating and pulling out of junctions without looking. Would also make good reading the amount of drivers with complaints against them and Wellingborough Council doing nothing about them.
DMT48
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 05:33 PMPerhaps they are getting ready for when they install CCTV in cabs to record any conversations that take place, as they have in Oxford.
Giles
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:52 PMI think this is an excellent driver and at the same time, get foreign drivers who drive these taxi's to pass a UK driving test! Respect - what on earth are you going on about??? If I get in a taxi in the UK - spending my hard earned money, I expect to be able to talk in English stating where I want to go and for the taxi driver to understand and take me there. Not having to spend 10 minutes trying to explain in pigeon English to a foreign driver who doesn't understand me and them probably taking me to the wring place.. Are you suggesting all customers of foreign speaking taxi drivers, have to learn their language, just to suit them?! It should be expected that anyone coming to this country to live and work, learns the native language, as Brits should do if they were to move to a foreign country... Before you dare say it, I am no racist or nationalist!
Mark Dragilocevic
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 06:40 PMA sensible decision.
Finker
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:54 AMrespect, there are white british people who struggle with basic maths. If the jobs requires basic skills then those doing it need to show they are able. The one bringing race into this is you, and that just makes it a race issue when it needn't be. There is support for those that want to develop their skills elsewhere.
Mark Dragilocevic
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 12:35 AMRespect, this is not an issue of race or indeed respect. It is necessary that all people speak English when working in the UK as we are an English speaking country. That's not discriminatory, that's a fact. Stop playing the race card and grow up.
robin hood
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 12:19 AMWellingborough Council are taking discriminative action against black and ethnic minority taxi drivers. We live in a multi ethnic and diverse country and no one should be forced to take this test.
pjwatcher
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 11:09 PMWhy is there a picture from hemle hempstead?
Gene Simmons
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 07:33 PMHow about starting with call centre staff first and then taxi drivers.
il Capitano
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 06:55 PMThey should be taught how to drive first
mickjack
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 04:29 PMWhy bother when English is the second language heard spoken in Wellingborough town centre,
Sledgling
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 03:16 PMI am think this is no good... taxi driver will have problem getting lesson and learn englisch as lesson cost many pennies of wage.
Mark Dragilocevic
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 03:11 PMGood.
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