‘WHAT’S THAT?”: Knowledge of London student stopped by police who’d never heard of taxi test
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
A Knowledge student preparing for his final run-ins was recently stopped by police while riding through London. The reason? The officer didn’t recognise the tools used by students training for one of the capital’s most rigorous professional qualifications.
The student, who has been working towards his Green Badge for over four years, was riding with a mounted perspex board on the front of his bike – a standard bit of kit used by Knowledge applicants to help study the routes. The board contains point lists and runs, which are memorised through repeated practice.
According to the student, he was pulled over and asked where he was going. When he replied, “I’m doing the Knowledge”, the officer reportedly replied, “What’s that?”
The encounter, which ended with a ticket for obstructed view, has triggered concern across the trade. The Knowledge is not only well known within the taxi industry, but also historically linked with the Metropolitan Police. Until 2000, the Met itself administered the test.
The LTDA has since intervened and reviewed the officer’s body-worn camera footage. The penalty notice has been rescinded, but the incident has raised fresh questions about awareness of the Knowledge among public officials.
The training to become a London taxi driver is famously difficult. Candidates spend years learning the network of thousands of streets and landmarks within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross. Training includes multiple appearances before assessors, testing memory, logic, and road knowledge.
Anthony Street, LTDA Executive, said in TAXI Newspaper: “Our student was stunned. Over four years he’d had no incidents, no accidents, and suddenly this happens? The board wasn’t oversized. It didn’t block his mirrors or his line of sight. It was securely mounted as it always had been. Now he’s left questioning whether this bizarre stop might threaten his future, and whether TfL will raise concerns over a completely unjustified ticket.
“Let’s be honest, in a city battling rising street crime, from phone snatching to violent offences, this feels like misplaced priorities.
“Knowledge students aren’t criminals, they’re the future of one of London’s most iconic professions; a trade that still commands worldwide respect.”
The LTDA has reassured students that the board is safe and compliant when fitted properly. They’ve also contacted the Met to recommend a briefing for officers, especially those patrolling areas where students commonly train.
The Knowledge remains a globally recognised standard in professional licensing. It sets London’s black cab drivers apart from other cities and continues to be a source of pride for those who complete it.
This incident, though isolated, has prompted calls for TfL and the Met Police to work more closely in educating staff about the demands and practices of the trade they licence and patrol.
