LOOPHOLE CLOSED: GMB welcomes St Albans decision to uphold Hackney Carriage knowledge test for dual taxi badge applicants
- Perry Richardson
- 7 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The GMB Union has welcomed a move by St Albans District Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee to require all new dual taxi badge applicants from the private hire trade to complete the full Hackney Carriage knowledge test.
The decision closes a loophole that could have allowed drivers without sufficient topographical knowledge to qualify for a dual badge, which enables them to operate as both Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers.
Representatives from GMB addressed the committee, highlighting members’ concerns around maintaining professional driving standards and ensuring passenger safety.
Following the discussion, the committee agreed that any private hire driver wishing to obtain a dual badge will now be treated as a new dual badge applicant and must sit the Hackney Carriage knowledge test before qualifying.
The decision aims to create consistency in licensing requirements across the district and maintain the expected standards of service and local route knowledge among Hackney Carriage drivers.
Raja Naveed Ahmed, St Albans Hackney Driver Representative, said: “Protecting the hard-won qualifications of our members and maintaining the highest possible standards for public transport in St Albans is a core issue.
“This decision by the Licensing Committee shows that when the trade stands united, we can successfully lobby for fair and effective policy.
“We are pleased the council listened to the GMB and our members, choosing to uphold integrity rather than devalue the licence our professional drivers have worked so hard to obtain.”
Steve Garelick, GMB Regional Organiser, said: “This is a victory for professionalism and public safety.
“We were clear: the proposal to bypass the full knowledge test was a fundamental threat to the integrity of the Hackney Carriage trade.
“Waiving that standard would have not only lowered the bar for the entire trade but was unfair to our existing Hackney Carriage members who passed the most demanding test.”
