Council introduces new tougher knowledge test for taxi and private hire drivers in a bid to improve
Bridgend hackney carriage and private hire drivers will have to pass a brand new knowledge test to obtain a licence to operate.
The new tests, agreed by the local licensing authority, will be introduced in November 2019 and will cost each applicant £25 per test taken.
If any one applicant fails to pass the exam on three occasions, the council will refuse them a licence unless there are exceptional circumstances.
According to WalesOnline, the test is set to cover a variety of topics from legislation and the location of streets to safeguarding, and how to get to places of interest outside the county like airports, cultural and sporting venues.
This will be the first time drivers will be tested on their knowledge of routes within the county. To avoid drivers giving away answers and helping one another, the council has prepared a number of different tests which will be randomly picked for each applicant.
It was confirmed the paper would be completed under test conditions with phones banned and an invigilator present.
It is understood that a minimum pass rate for each applicant will be 80 per cent. Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) has prepared the number of questions for each topic, pass rates and time limits.
Officers told councillors at a meeting on 13 August that there would be around 40 routes for applicants to remember and will be tested on any 5 during the exam. The test will only apply to new applicants and not to those drivers applying for a renewal licence and training material will be provided as part of the application process.
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