Well, yesterday I had driving test again. Last test was 37 years ago. I went for a hackney carriage / licensed hire test at the local DSA test centre. Basically its the standard driving test with added taxi type manouvres (lots of turning round in the road, and pulling up at the side of the road, with taxi type questions at the end)
I did no swotting up, and just booked and went blind. (for the pedants here, I passed the eyesight test)
Came out with a pass and 1 minor (failed to recognise the level croissing with no gates sign)
Relieved. My son would have extracted the you know what had I failed!
I may or may not go for a taxi license - depends on how bored I get.
Edited by Altea Ego on 10/02/2010 at 17:28
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Well done AE :)
I'm not sure I could do that after all these years!
Pat
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I wonder how I would do? Certainly have no intention of finding out. On a bad day anyone could screw it up, but generally speaking I'm probably as good as a taxi driver and a whole lot better than today's mimsing, waddling, people-carrier-using, pratnav-hypnotised, just-off-the-plane London minicab drivers... off course the chaps just down the road with Mercs and Avensises are a cut above those... In my day the company owner would assess your driving and natural selection (arrests, crashes, collapsed jalopies, nervous breakdowns) did the rest.
Congratulations though AE on having the bottle to go for it and getting away with it. Let us know when you go into the trade. I will come down there and play the PITA punter to wind you up and make sure your turn of polemic is as ready as it always has been.
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To get a taxi license these days, one has to pass the DSA test, then have a CRB check, and then (in my borough) pass a local "knowledge" £250 quid then get you a taxi license.
If you want to get a hackney carriage license (in my borough) you have to have a new eurocab type vehicle with wheelchair access and a taximeter. That lets you use the cab rank and ply for hire in the street. No "eurocab" then its a private hire license (no cab rank or ply for hire)
This is all outside the met of course, where the knowledge and tests are much more regulated.
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The only Hackney they seem to allow in Manchester (the city council area) is TX4s. There are few old TX2s and late plate Metrocabs but the vast majority are TX4s under two years old.
The other requirement is the drivers have to be very rude.
I am not sure how easy it is to get a mini cab licnece in Manchester but I think its pretty much just a CRB check.
Well done for passing the test, 1 minor is very impressive. I got a minor for turning a 3 point turn into a 7 point turn - I wish I had kept that one quiet from my mates!
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I got a minor for turning a 3 point turn into a 7 point turn .........
When I took my driving test the official term for the manoeuvre wasn't "3 point turn" and you were under no obligation to turn in only 3 stages. The emphasis was more on doing it safely and not touching the kerbs with your tyres. Unfortunately I can't remember the official term.
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Unfortunately I can't remember the official term.
"Turn in the road, using forward and reverse gears...." or some such waffle.
Indeed you can do it in more than 3, but depending on the road width and the car, you can pick a minor for what could be deemed OTT by the examiner, or where you haven't made full use of the steering and control.
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The only Hackney they seem to allow in Manchester ...
Wouldn't surprise me.
When I arrived at machester train station last year they had the most rediculous system at the taxi ranks, with a barrier which only let in one taxi every 20 seconds - despite there being a long queue of taxis and an even longer queue of customers. Totally barmy!
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I would guess that taxi rank is controlled by Network Rail and not the council.
A tip in Manchester at night is never ever go to the taxi rank, walk down Oxford Road towards All Saints and you will be spoilt for choice over taxis. I usualy get the bus though.
As for test I know there is no requirement to it in 3, but I was driving a Clio III so there was really really no excuse. It took me about two minutes to complete and thats why I was marked down. It was purely because of nerves. Amazingly I did parrerel parking and passed that with no minors and I don't even know how to it now!
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