r/Glasgow Tools

Title
Author	Torran_Toi
Comment	As said, taxi drivers are required to pass a topographical test. However, the test isn't ANYWHERE near as difficult as the London Knowledge. I've got a copy of the guide around here somewhere and it's less of a knowledge test and more of a memory rote test. It can be studied and passed without ever having driven the streets. The test does not include any element of testing route or route planning knowledge. Questions are multiple choice and there are three types of questions. The first set of questions asks what area a street can be found in (What area would you find Alexandra Parade? A. Dennistoun, B. Cranhill, or C. Shawlands). The second set asks what streets a street connects to at both ends (What does Alexandra Parade connect to? A. Balornock Road and Standburn Road, B. Cumbernauld Road and Castle Street, or C. Maryhill Road and Balmore Road). The third set of questions concerns landmarks and POIs (Where would you find The Devoncove Hotel? A. Argyle Street, B. Trongate, or C. Sauchiehall Steet). It only concerns itself with major main roads. For example, if it wants to ask about Dennistoun then it won't ever ask about side streets like Findlay Drive or Bathgate Street, only ever the main roads like Duke Street or Alexandra Parade. Don't get me wrong. It's not piss easy. But it is NOT overly difficult unless you struggle with memory. The point I'm making though is it doesn't actually test a driver's knowledge of the city's streets as much as they pretend that it does and, as I said above, it does not teach or test any form of route planning whatsoever. Private hire drivers don't need to sit and pass this test though. I know plenty of taxi drivers and private hire drivers. Some PH drivers are shite at street knowledge and routing while some are experts. Same goes for the taxi drivers. * There is a new qualification though that all drivers, both taxi and PH, need to do now though. It's an SVQ level 5 in "Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver". All drivers entering the trade need to have the certificate to get a badge and all existing drivers will now need the certificate at their next renewal. The course costs up to £400 (around £200 with an ITA grant) and there's 9 modules covering stuff like health and safety, licensing and legislation, customer service, etc. However, this course and qualification does not cover anything to do with street knowledge or route planning. * Your last question, would it be beneficial to have such a test done properly across both sides of the trade? Hmm, nah. Maybe before the age of sat-navs and app based dispatch it would have been useful, but we are now decades too late. I really don't think it's all that necessary. I think standards in the trade do need improved, but street knowledge isn't the problem. Bad attitudes, stinky vehicles, stinky drivers, illegal touting and plying, uninsured pirate journeys, terrible service, poor and dangerous driving skills ... these are the things that need improved, and the new SVQ is aiming to deal with these issues. That course has it's flaws though, but hopefully over the next year or so we might see positive results come because of it - either in the form of standards improving in the fleet, or it forcing the absolute arse holes out of the trade.
Reddit Link	https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/szmxjb/are_glasgow_taxi_drivers_required_to_pass_a/hy6z980/
Created	Thu 24th Feb 2022 3:42am
Status	normal ()

As said, taxi drivers are required to pass a topographical test. However, the test isn't ANYWHERE near as difficult as the London Knowledge. I've got a copy of the guide around here somewhere and it's less of a knowledge test and more of a memory rote test. It can be studied and passed without ever having driven the streets. The test does not include any element of testing route or route planning knowledge.

Questions are multiple choice and there are three types of questions.

The first set of questions asks what area a street can be found in (What area would you find Alexandra Parade? A. Dennistoun, B. Cranhill, or C. Shawlands).

The second set asks what streets a street connects to at both ends (What does Alexandra Parade connect to? A. Balornock Road and Standburn Road, B. Cumbernauld Road and Castle Street, or C. Maryhill Road and Balmore Road).

The third set of questions concerns landmarks and POIs (Where would you find The Devoncove Hotel? A. Argyle Street, B. Trongate, or C. Sauchiehall Steet).

It only concerns itself with major main roads. For example, if it wants to ask about Dennistoun then it won't ever ask about side streets like Findlay Drive or Bathgate Street, only ever the main roads like Duke Street or Alexandra Parade.

Don't get me wrong. It's not piss easy. But it is NOT overly difficult unless you struggle with memory. The point I'm making though is it doesn't actually test a driver's knowledge of the city's streets as much as they pretend that it does and, as I said above, it does not teach or test any form of route planning whatsoever.

Private hire drivers don't need to sit and pass this test though.

I know plenty of taxi drivers and private hire drivers. Some PH drivers are shite at street knowledge and routing while some are experts. Same goes for the taxi drivers.

***

There is a new qualification though that all drivers, both taxi and PH, need to do now though. It's an SVQ level 5 in "Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver". All drivers entering the trade need to have the certificate to get a badge and all existing drivers will now need the certificate at their next renewal. The course costs up to £400 (around £200 with an ITA grant) and there's 9 modules covering stuff like health and safety, licensing and legislation, customer service, etc. However, this course and qualification does not cover anything to do with street knowledge or route planning.

***

Your last question, would it be beneficial to have such a test done properly across both sides of the trade? Hmm, nah. Maybe before the age of sat-navs and app based dispatch it would have been useful, but we are now decades too late. I really don't think it's all that necessary. I think standards in the trade do need improved, but street knowledge isn't the problem. Bad attitudes, stinky vehicles, stinky drivers, illegal touting and plying, uninsured pirate journeys, terrible service, poor and dangerous driving skills ... these are the things that need improved, and the new SVQ is aiming to deal with these issues. That course has it's flaws though, but hopefully over the next year or so we might see positive results come because of it - either in the form of standards improving in the fleet, or it forcing the absolute arse holes out of the trade.