Introduction to taxi driving
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) first introduced a non-statutory practical driving test for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire in 1999 and now DSA conduct tests on behalf of many Licensing Authorities on a national basis.
DSA take the view that professional Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers have a special responsibility in the safe transportation of fare paying passengers. Every journey should be a safe one, taxi drivers make millions of safe and efficient journeys in Britain each year and the safe completion of each journey totally depends on the skill of the driver.
Some Licensing Authorities insist that before you are issued with a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire drivers licence you must pass a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire assessment. If your Licensing Authority requires you to take the test, it is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the content of the test and that you take professional instruction prior to taking the test.
The standard of the taxi assesmment test is set at a level suitable for the full driving licence holder, which is therefore higher than the learner driver test.
The eyesight test
At the start of your practical test you will be asked to read in good daylight (with the aid of glasses or contact lenses if worn) a registration mark fixed to a motor vehicle with letters and figures 79.4 millimetres high at a distance of 20.5 metres (20 metres for a new style number plate). If you fail the eyesight test, you will be unable to take the driving part but will still be able to continue with the wheelchair section.
The practical test
The practical test will last for about 35 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic. During the test you should drive in a natural way, and should not adjust your driving to what you may feel the examiner would expect to see. The examiner will give you clear instructions which you should follow throughout the test.
During the practical test, you will be examined on the following:
- awareness and anticipation
- effective planning of prevailing road and traffic conditions
- correct use of speed
- emergency stop (one in three tests)
- a manoeuvre involving reversing
- Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Car related exercise
- passenger safety and comfort
- wheelchair element (for Black Cab style only)
If you are taking the taxi test with the wheelchair exercise you should also be able to:
- demonstrate your ability to securely erect the wheelchair ramps, floor ramp etc
- safely install the wheelchair in your vehicle
- secure seat belts/safety harness and also secure any wheel belts/clamps fitted to your vehicle
- reverse the process by taking off the belts, harnesses and clamps, taking the wheelchair out of the vehicle and putting the ramps away
At the end of test
On passing the test you will receive:
- a pass certificate
- the offer of a debrief
- an assessment copy
If you pass the driving element of the taxi test you will receive a TPH10 certificate. If you pass the wheelchair element you will receive a WTA10 certificate.
If you fail the test you will receive:
- the offer of a debrief
- an assessment copy
- training advice
If you fail the taxi practical test you may retake the test again at a later date. You must, however, wait a minimum period of three clear working days between appointments. There is no limit to the number of times you can take the test.
The taxi assessment test is reflective of modern driving practices, the standard is set at a level suitable for the full driving licence holder, which is therefore higher than the learner driver test. It is important that you do not adjust your driving to what you may feel the examiner would expect to see, do not drive in an unnatural manner. It is important that you read the Highway Code and be familiar with your vehicle, it is also strongly advisable to consider taking professional instruction prior to taking the test.
To pass you are permitted to accumulate up to nine driving faults, if you accumulate 10 or more driving faults you will fail. Any serious or dangerous faults will be immediately recorded as a failure; the test will still continue finally returning to the driving test centre.
Please read `Your taxi/private hire assessment explained’ for more information. This can be downloaded from the link below or it can be found in your taxi assessment pack.
What the examiner is looking for during a taxi test
- you may be asked to do an emergency stop, you will need to demonstrate that you can stop as in an emergency, promptly and under control (avoid skidding)
- you will be asked to carry out two manoeuvres one of which will be your own choice, in both cases you will be expected to demonstrate your ability to manoeuvre your vehicle under control and with good all round effective observations, giving consideration to other road users and pedestrians
- you will be asked on a number of occasions to pull up on the left at a safe and convenient place, as if a fare is either going to get in or out of your vehicle – avoid parking next to lamp posts and trees as this could be potentially hazardous for your passenger
- whenever you have been stationary at the side of the road, remember your important safety check – check your blind spot (look over your right shoulder) before pulling away
- you need to use all your mirrors effectively (interior and exterior) and at the appropriate times, in effect you should demonstrate that you are aware of what is happening around your vehicle at all times
- you need to signal correctly and in good time to let other road users know your intention – other road users need to see and understand what you plan to do
- you will be expected to understand and comply with traffic signs and road markings, as they are there to help you anticipate and plan your journey. You will also need to see and react to signals given by the police, traffic wardens etc and signals given by other road users
- you must be able to demonstrate your ability to make progress when the speed signs and the road and traffic conditions dictate it is safe to do so – equally it is important to demonstrate that you recognise and comply when in a lower speed limit areas
- watch your separation distance from the vehicle in front and also your separation distance from parked cars
- use sound judgement when overtaking, meeting oncoming vehicles and when turning right in front of oncoming traffic – at no time be in a situation where you cause another vehicle to brake or swerve to avoid you
- demonstrate that you are aware of other road users at all times, plan ahead predict how the actions of others will affect your driving and react in good time – be aware of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists etc, act in good time rather than at the last moment
Wheelchair accessible vehicles
You should demonstrate your ability to securely erect the wheelchair ramps (whatever style of ramp fitted to your vehicle)
- safely install the wheelchair in your vehicle, backing the chair to the `fold down’ seats, then securing both wheelchair brakes
- secure seat belts/safety harness and also secure wheel belts/clamps if fitted to your vehicle
- having satisfied yourself that the wheelchair and imaginary disabled person are secure, reverse the process
- you will be asked a few questions on the Highway Code, asked to identify a few traffic sign and road markings and asked some general cabology questions – this may include such questions as the length, width or height, tyre pressures, what to do if you found an item of lost property in your cab etc
It is important that you can demonstrate all the principles of safety and security – if seat belts, wheel belts or wheel clamps etc are fitted then they should be in good working order and applied whatever style of wheelchair accessible vehicle you bring on test.
hi just recently taken my driving test, 1st time the examiner failed me due to touching a kerb while reversing in to a quiet cul-de-sac, when i realised i moved forward to correct the proceed. 2nd same examiner he failed me apparently in the wrong lane on a round a bout, i didn’t realise i was, i didn’t cause any obstruction to others, i’m seriously thinking about putting a complaint in to dsa as i felt as if the examiner was looking/trying to put me off, marking his paper as i was getting lots minors then sighing,also at the beginning of the test the examiner asked me to read a number plate attached to a fence twice!!! on both tests. if he thought i read it wrong he should of failed me. please answer my question i’m so annoyed with having 3 minors and 1 serious, then 1 minor and 1 serious.
Sorry to hear about your problems on your Driving Tests. If you feel that the Tests were not carried out correctly you have the right to complain in writing to the Driving Standards Agency.
As far as the Eyesight test goes the Examiner appears to have given you a second chance to read the number plate and as you were correct there would be no problem. If you were unable to read it at all he/she would have measured out the exact distance with a tape measure and asked you to read it again and failing you if you could still not read it. With regards to the touching of the kerb the Examiner would have based his/her decision on how hard you touched the kerb. The roundabout incident is a little more complicated as the seriousness of the fault should depend on how the Examiner assesses the effect you would have on other road users and as I was not present at the time I would be unable to comment. I suggest you call the Test Centre and ask to speak to the Centre manager and make your concerns known to him/her.
The reason for the serious fault would be because of your position in the road. The Highway Code states that you should keep to the left unless Road Signs or Markings dictate otherwise or you are passing obstructions or pedestrians on the road. As the other vehicles were overtaking on your left when they should have been able to pass on the right, even if they are speeding, it is not allowable to overtake on the left unless you were signalling to the right. As you were positioned on the right you were obstructing the flow of traffic. I agree about you being a safe driver but the Highway Code rules must be followed. This doesn’t just apply to the Test – if you are involved in an accident the Insurance companies would consider your position in the road when deciding liability. Hope this helps you. Good luck next time.