TAXI TESTING FOR ASHFORD

31 Mar 2004 06:15 PM

Would-be taxi drivers wanting to work in the area covered by Ashford Borough Council are to be assessed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) before being given licences to drive cabs.

The scheme will go live on 1 April 2004 when specially trained driving examiners will assess the ability of the applicants to drive safely and professionally in a 'real' environment. Successful candidates will receive a certificate of competence and debrief.

Taxi tests will be carried out at Maidstone and Ashford (Kent) driving test centres. The taxi test includes manoeuvres designed specifically with the operational taxi driver in mind. Set at a higher standard than the practical test for learner drivers, the assessment ensures the competence of an applicant to drive passengers in safety and comfort.

Specifically designed test routes are being used and the DSA will ensure that a uniform and consistently high standard of taxi testing is maintained.
Robin Cummins, DSA's Chief Driving Examiner, said: "Driving a taxi carries a great responsibility and taxi drivers are the only hire and reward drivers who currently don't have to pass a statutory driving test. The Government is anxious to improve road safety and we are delighted that Ashford Borough Council has decided to introduce the new assessment. We look forward to involvement with customers who are planning their future in this particular professional driving capacity."

Notes to Editors

1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport, and is part of the Driver, Vehicle and Operator (DVO) group of organisations within the Department. 2. The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through improving driving standards, testing drivers and riders fairly and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving Instructors and Large Goods Vehicle Instructors and supervising basic training for learner motorcyclists.
3. The DSA is a trading fund with turnover of around 101 million for the year 2002/3. Income for the year 2003/4 is expected to be in the region of 112m, fully funded by fee income and revenue from non-statutory activities.
4. The DSA HQ is at Stanley House, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GU, and there are five area offices, which manage 437 practical test centres across Britain.
5. The DSA employs 2,393 staff, of which some 1,635 are driving examiners. In 2002/03 the Agency conducted 1.3 million tests for car drivers, over 72,000 vocational tests and over 86,000 motorcycle rider tests. 1.4 million theory tests were carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there were 31,786 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.
6. The DSA achieved formal accreditation as an Investor in People in July 2000.
7. DSA is one of the first Government Agencies to introduce an 'on-line' booking service. Candidates can book their theory and practical tests directly on DSA's website : www.dsa.gov.uk