Five-attempt limit on taxi driver exam to be scrapped in North Somerset
Currently, taxi drivers are only able to retake the knowledge exam a maximum of five times, but that could change in the future
People applying for taxi driver licences from North Somerset Council will no longer face a cap of five attempts at the knowledge test — but some might need to buy a newer car.
Currently, taxi drivers are only able to retake the knowledge exam — which tests how well they know the roads around North Somerset — a maximum of five times.
But Weston-super-Mare Uphill councillor Peter Bryant proposed an amendment to the five tests cap at a meeting of North Somerset Council’s licensing committee on February 7, arguing: “It shouldn’t be full and final.”
Under the new policy, which will be subject to public consultation before coming into effect, taxi driver applicants who have failed the test five times will get another chance to take the exam after six months.
Drivers will be expected to familiarise themselves with the district’s roads in that time, but the option to wait another six months and have another attempt at the test will still be there for applicants who keep failing the test.
Mr Bryant said: “I think we are being generous to people, whether they take up the opportunity of having the second bash at it or not.”
The rules around which cars could be used as taxis were also agreed at the meeting.
Currently, vehicles can be up to eight years old when first registered as a taxi. But under the updated rules, no car older than five years will be able to be registered as a taxi.
Vehicles will also not be allowed to be taxis if they have previously been written off as an insurance loss for any reason. Currently, vehicles that had been written off under category S or N but then repaired could be registered as taxis if an inspector agreed it was safe.
Drivers of taxis that are already licensed but would not be able to get a new licence under the updated rules may still be able to continue getting their vehicle re-licensed under “grandfather rights.”
The updated policies will not come into effect until they have gone through public consultation.