ROUND THE COUNCILS PENDLE:
BRISTOL: PH KNOWLEDGE TEST MAY BE AXED
The knowledge test for Bristol private hire drivers may be axed. First introduced in 1865, the 90-minute Knowledge test requires drivers to learn thousands of routes across the city but a report states that just eight of 133 people who took the test this year passed. Licensing officers are now suggesting scrapping this part of the entry exam. A report to the committee on June 3, said: “Concerns have been raised that sections of the test are no longer relevant. 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 As such the current requirement to know the location of certain premises or roads is outdated.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 committee report said 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 PHV 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.” It said the sections remaining in the test would be relating to safety, including CSE, general road safety and how to calculate change, policy and legislation, and equality. The report said these should be strengthened with a wider range of questions 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 PH driver and therefore ensure the safety of the travelling public.”
38 “OBSOLETE” KNOWLEDGE TEST AXED
Pendle Council has opted to remove the local knowledge test from its assessment for new taxi and private hire drivers, citing government guidance that deems such tests “obsolete” due to the prevalence of satellite navigation technology and pre-booked journeys. The decision was made at a taxi licensing meeting in May,
scrapping the £29.90 test component for
hackney carriage and private hire licence applicants. A spokeswoman for Pendle Council confirmed the move, stating: “Government guidance says that due to sat nav technology and with journeys being pre- booked the need for a local spatial test is now obsolete. We are therefore complying with national guidance.” However, not all councils in Lancashire are following suit. Neighbouring authorities such as Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Rossendale Council still retain a local knowledge element in their taxi driver assessments. Blackburn with Darwen’s £87 test, for instance, requires applicants to identify the roads of ten local landmarks, including pubs, schools, and medical centres. Rossendale’s £70 example test includes questions on local pubs and landmarks, as well as general knowledge queries. Some drivers argue that local knowledge extends beyond simply knowing street names. Mo, a private hire driver working in Blackburn, emphasised the practical advantages. “Sat navs are great, obviously, but someone who has a lot of knowledge about their local area will know where roadworks are located, or which roads are quieter at certain times,” he said. He also highlighted the convenience for passengers if they change their destination mid-journey, noting that drivers reliant solely on sat-navs would “have to stop and re-route their journey whereas those who know the town they work in will have no problem.” While Lancaster City Council’s assessment, costing £87, does not appear to include a local knowledge test, they do offer free training courses through a local college. Applicants for taxi licences must cover the cost of both the test (where applicable) and the application itself. Three-year licence fees vary significantly across councils, from £354 in Lancaster to £238 in Blackburn with Darwen and £259 in Rossendale.
JULY 2025 PHTM
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