Taxi Driver Training

We have many years experience in training full licence holders and professional drivers including minibus and PCV. The Taxi Test requires specialist training. Taxi drivers should not be expected to drive like a good learner, but drive as an experienced professional driver.

A lot of Approved Driving Instructors who regularly teach L-drivers quite often find it difficult to deal with professional drivers. Using our experiences of corporate driver training, instructor training and advanced driver training, our trainers using coaching skills are in the best position to help all professional drivers develop their driving skills to a higher level.

To be a taxi driver or private hire driver you must fulfil the standard conditions of:Being able to work legally in the UKHold a full UK driver's licence issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or a full European Union driving licence together with a UK paper counterpart

Other requirements for getting your licence include passing:A criminal record checkA medicalA 'knowledge' test - to prove you have reasonable geographical knowledge of the area in which you intend to drive.The Driving Standards Agency's practical assessment for taxi and private hire drivers.

What does the taxi or private hire vehicle assessment involve?
The standard of the hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire vehicle assessment is set at a level suitable for a full driving licence holder. It is therefore higher than that of the learner driver test. On the L test, a learner is allowed 15 minor driving faults whereas on the taxi driving test only 9 minor driving faults are
permitted. Local authorities will not grant a new licence until the Taxi Test Assessment has been passed, therefore, it is in the interests of the Taxi drivers to take some professional training prior to taking the test.

The practical assessment
The practical assessment will last for about 35 to 40 minutes. You will be assessed on are your awareness, anticipation and planning skills, your ability to drive at a safe and legal speed, and passenger safety and comfort. Also you will be assessed on your ability to do manoeuvres safely such as making U turns, and an exercise that involves reversing. The examiner will also ask you a few questions on the Highway Code and ask you to identify some traffic signs and road markings.

The eyesight test
At the start of your practical assessment, you will be asked to read in good daylight a vehicle registration number with letters and figures 79.4 millimetres high from a distance of 20.5 metres (20 metres for a new-style number plate). You can use glasses or contact lenses if you wear them.

If you fail the eyesight test, you will be unable to take the driving part of the assessment. However, you will still be able to continue with the wheelchair section if appropriate.

During the practical assessment, you will be examined on:Awareness and anticipationEffective planning of prevailing road and traffic conditionsCorrect use of speedEmergency stop (there will be one in the assessment)A manoeuvre involving reversingPassenger safety and comfort
Taxi or private hire related exerciseMaking U-turnsSelecting a safe place for a passenger getting out of your vehicle

If you requested the enhanced assessmentA wheelchair exercise (this is for wheelchair enhanced vehicles)

The taxi or black cab wheelchair exercise
If you are doing the enhanced assessment, your assessment will include a wheelchair exercise. This is to demonstrate that you know how to use the equipment safely.You will need to:Show your ability to securely erect the wheelchair ramps and floor rampsSafely put the wheelchair in your vehicle, backing the chair to the fold-down seats, then securing both wheelchair brakesFasten the seat belts or safety harness and also secure any wheel belts or clamps if they are fitted to your vehicleReverse the process by taking off the belts, harnesses and clamps, removing the wheelchair from your vehicle and putting the ramps away

For information about our training courses for the hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire vehicle assessment please contact us.

Taxi driver training York, Taxi driver training Yorkshire

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