Bid to lower driving experience requirements to become cabbie in Stockton kicked into touch
Four Teeside cab companies have had their request for Stockton Council to look at lowering the driving experience requirements to obtain a taxi or private hire licence in the area kicked into touch.
Councillors were asked to reduce the requirement from three years driving experience to one year by the four companies, amid concerns at driver numbers decreasing in the area.
Other authorities in surrounding areas require drivers to have just twelve months experience, but Stockton Council have a stricter regime.
Councillor Norma Stephenson expressed concerns that due to Stockton's strict policies, drivers were opting to obtain a licence from other councils like Wolverhampton.
The four companies lodged the request for the rule to be changed, citing problems with recruiting new drivers as a major issue. The letter stated that lowering the barrier to entry will help relieve the financial pressures on operators and encourage prospective drivers to obtain licences from Stockton Council.
The chamber heard that no accident data had been compiled to look at the differentials between one and three years driving experience according to the Northern Echo.
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