TAXI TOPOGRAPHICAL TEST: Why are some regions looking to shift away from local cabbie Knowledge?

For decades, local knowledge testing has been at the heart of taxi driver licensing in the UK. Known colloquially as “The Knowledge”, these topographical exams have historically acted as a gateway for hackney carriage drivers to prove their grasp of the areas they serve. The best-known example remains London’s rigorous Knowledge of London, which has tested cab drivers since 1865 and is still regarded as one of the toughest professional assessments in the world.

Across the rest of the UK, councils followed suit, developing their own local knowledge tests through the 1990s and 2000s. The tests were designed to ensure taxi drivers could recall road names, routes, and landmarks without relying on navigation devices. In Sefton, York, Rossendale and many others, drivers had to pass geography-based exams that mirrored the principles of the London system. Even in smaller boroughs, the same logic applied: a driver who can be hailed on the street must be ready to act on the spot, finding the fastest, most efficient route with no external aid.

But over the last 10 to 15 years, that approach has started to fragment. Some licensing authorities have decided that memorising routes is no longer essential. Others continue to defend it. The result is a patchwork of policies that differ depending on location, licence type, and council strategy.

Areas still testing street knowledge

Some authorities, particularly in larger cities, maintain strong expectations for taxi driver knowledge. London remains the clearest example. The full Knowledge is still mandatory for black cab drivers, who must commit years to detailed study and pass multiple stages of assessment. This continues to set them apart from private hire drivers in the capital and makes the Knowledge a key unique selling point for customers.

Elsewhere, York, Rossendale, and Blackburn with Darwen have retained local geography assessments. In York, questions range from local roads to historical landmarks. In Rossendale, candidates are tested on locations of mosques, pubs, and supermarkets. In Blackburn, drivers must name the streets of various landmarks during the exam. These councils argue that such tests help maintain high service levels, particularly for passengers hailing cabs without notice or fixed destination points.

Scotland’s major cities also retain forms of the Knowledge. In Aberdeen, the Street Knowledge Test was reduced in length in 2024 following criticism but was not removed. The council justified its continued use by referencing service expectations and the role of drivers as trusted public transport providers.

Supporters of these tests claim they still matter, even in the era of GPS. Knowledgeable drivers, they argue, don’t need to check their devices at every turn. They know diversions, quiet routes and roadwork alternatives, particularly at peak times or during major events.

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A shift in policy elsewhere

A growing number of licensing authorities, however, have now moved in the opposite direction. Faced with driver shortages, increased reliance on GPS, and updated government guidance, some councils have decided that topographical testing is no longer necessary.

Durham County Council is one example. In 2018 it removed the test for private hire drivers. In 2023 it extended that policy to hackney carriage applicants. The decision was based on the growth in sat-nav use and the belief that such technology negates the need for pre-memorised local knowledge.

Bristol followed a similar route in 2025 after reporting a very low pass rate on its knowledge test – only 8 out of 133 candidates succeeded early that year. The council concluded the exam was outdated and a barrier to recruitment. The council has proposed removing the topographical section and refocused its test on safeguarding, legal compliance, and customer service.

Wolverhampton, meanwhile, became known in the late 2010s for offering streamlined private hire licensing with minimal local testing. By 2019, it had introduced a modern driver training course focusing on safety, regulation and safeguarding – but not on street names or landmarks. This allowed applicants from other areas to obtain licences quickly, especially given cross-border hiring rules.

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These councils tend to argue that their modern approach is both efficient and safe. Drivers are trained in child protection, equality, and the legal responsibilities of the trade. Geography is left to the GPS.

The PHV divide

The decline in topographical testing is even more noticeable among private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers. Because all PHV journeys are pre-booked through an operator, drivers are expected to have time to check directions in advance. This has historically justified lighter testing than for hackney drivers, and today the majority of PHV applicants face no route knowledge exam at all.

Transport for London requires minicab drivers to take a short topographical assessment, but this is minimal compared to the black cab Knowledge. In many other parts of the UK, including Durham, Pendle and Bristol, councils have removed these requirements entirely in recent years. Instead, they assess English proficiency, safety awareness, and the ability to use navigation systems.

This approach reflects national guidance. The Law Commission’s 2014 review of taxi law recommended removing topographical tests for PHV drivers. The Department for Transport’s 2022–2023 Best Practice Guidance went further, advising councils not to require any topographical knowledge test for PHVs. It said the value of such exams was limited for private hire service and unnecessary in the age of satellite navigation.

The road ahead

There is now a distinct divide between those councils that retain and value The Knowledge or a local variant, and those that have abandoned it in favour of training on laws, safety and service. For many licensing bodies, the emphasis has moved from memorising streets to ensuring drivers are competent, courteous and compliant with regulation.

This shift has not been without criticism. Opponents warn that removing local knowledge testing could lead to lower standards and over-reliance on technology. But supporters argue that driver capability should be measured by how well they serve passengers, not whether they remember every street name.

Some areas, such as York and London, are holding firm and using it as a clear USP to gain customers. Others, like Bristol and Durham, have turned sharply away from traditional testing models. Each council must balance the need for professional, well-informed drivers with the realities of recruitment, technology, and public expectation.