ROUND THE COUNCILS ABERDEEN:
KNOWLEDGE TEST TO STAY FOR PHVs
Aberdeen councillors have unanimously voted to keep the controversial “Street Knowledge Test” for private hire drivers. The decision rejects intense pressure from Uber and local business leaders who wanted the exam scrapped to combat a severe shortage of cabs in the city. Uber led calls to remove the exam since being granted a licence to operate in Aberdeen in summer 2024. Following years of complaints about taxi shortages Aberdeen City Council launched a taxi consultation earlier this year. The consultation touched on a number of key issues impacting the industry, including the future of the airport taxi fleet, card payments and whether all cabs should have CCTV. But most interest was in the much-debated need for the Street Knowledge Test for private hire drivers in Aberdeen. Around 1,800 people took part in the survey, and more backed maintaining the Street Knowledge Test than wanted it scrapped. More than 45% of respondents said the exam should be required for all aspiring Aberdeen PH drivers whilst 43% wanted it removed. This came despite business leaders warning of the impact on the night-time economy, claiming a lack of cabs is deterring people from going into the city centre.
What happened in the meeting? Aberdeen City Council’s licencing committee met on Wednesday 3 June to discuss the future of the taxi trade. After seeing the slim margin of public support for the Street Knowledge Test, Uber issued a last-ditch plea for it to be axed anyway to “transform how people get around the city”. Local taxi drivers, Uber, industry chiefs and disability representatives spoke at the meeting, while the rowdy, heckling public gallery was threatened with closure on more than one occasion as debate became charged. Councillors united to unanimously agree to keep the Street Knowledge Test for all Aberdeen drivers, committing to revisit the issue in two years. Taxi chiefs argued a revamp of the exam in Aberdeen was already bearing fruit, with more than 120 people already passing the test this year. Council licensing solicitor Sandy Munro summarised
PHTM JULY 2026
what had been agreed. He said: “The upshot is essentially the majority of the policy remains unchanged.” Luke Hulse of Hulse Citywide Taxis, who is also also a member of the city’s Taxi Private Hire Consolation Group (TPHCG) said: “Wednesday’s outcome is simply common sense. Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has decided to maintain the high standard of its licensed drivers. “Instead of buckling to immense pressure from Uber, Our Union Street, Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdeen Grampian Chamber of Commerce, ACC has continued to be a leader in the world of licensing. Licensing authorities from all over the UK, could learn something from this. “The Street Knowledge Test (SKT), is vital to maintaining the standard that locals and visitors have come to expect from the city’s licensed drivers. “Local knowledge can’t be beaten! “A sat-nav won’t tell you what the best entrance is at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, when you have an appointment at a certain department. “A sat-nav won’t tell you where the pick-up and drop- off points are at Aberdeen International Airport, nor will it tell you the fee the airport charge to pick-up and drop-off, as they are currently different. “The sat-nav won’t tell you what’s happening, event wise. Nor will it recommend the sights and places to see. “And it definitely won’t tell you where you can obtain a deep fried mars bar, or help you with your cravings for a late night, (early morning to some), steak and gravy pie. “We are the unofficial ambassadors to the Granite City. We are immensely proud at what we do. “Everyone at the TPHCG, works really hard to fight for this trade, whether as a group, a company, or as an individual, we all have the same goals, excelling in customer service, pride behind the badge, and tradition. “It’s a shame that the local business groups and local media don’t engage in up-to-date facts, nor accept what the public want. Maybe they should engage with us, the local taxi trade, instead of peddling the narrative of an international operator. “Maybe they should stick to what they know, and keep out of a business they clearly know nothing about. “Lastly, a thank you to the people of the City of Aberdeen. Thank you for showing your support. Thank you for backing the REAL ‘Local Champion’. “We will always be there for you!”
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