Crawley driver training sets new taxi standards
A significant number of Local Authorities have signed up to a Driving Standards Agency directive. This means that all prospective taxi or private hire drivers who require a Local Authority Passenger Carriage licence for ....
- carriage of fare paying passengers
- chauffeuring
- registered child minding
will have to take a more stringent driving test. This test is similar to the practical driving test taken by learners, except there is a higher standard, where only 9 minor faults are acceptable.
A course to prepare applicants has been produced by Awareness Driver Training, a Crawley driver training organisation. It is currently the only course endorsed by Diamond Advanced Motorists – the advanced driver training sector of the Driving Instructors Association, and has been adopted as their national training syllabus for taxi & private hire driver training across the whole of the UK.
The test includes a 60 minute practical drive on specially planned routes. The examiner marks the test in the standard DSA format, and asks the driver to perform certain tasks, including the securing of wheelchairs into vehicles where applicable, and also two reversing manoeuvres, one of which is of the driver’s choice.
There is also a question and answer test on ‘cabology’ where relevant, in addition to answering questions from the Highway Code, and identifying road signs.
The examiner also makes a decision if the vehicle presented for the test is suitable for the operation intended, which has to meet the DSA Minimum Test Vehicle Regulations.
The successful candidate must collect no more than 9 minor faults during the test.
The Driving Instructors Association was formed in 1976 and is the biggest world wide organisation involved with the training of driver and road safety. Naturally, Awareness Driver Training is a member.
For further information, contact Howard Redwood on Crawley 01293 774451 or visit the Awareness website here.
http://www.thebestof.co.uk/crawley/news/38956