Should Taxi And PH Drivers Have To Complete Advanced Driving Courses?

Its widely acknowledged that the current best practice guidance, published in 2010, is not fit for purpose. Some of the industry problems were addressed in the Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards back in 2020, but not everything.  

One thing that wasn’t addressed, is the matter of advanced driving proficiency for taxi and PH drivers. But it seems that this is set to change.  

The Government are currently analysing the results of a best practice consultation for the industry. One of the consultation questions asked was: 

“Do you agree licensing authorities should require taxi and PHV drivers, as professional drivers, to evidence a higher degree of driving ability than is required for private motorists?” 

What does the current guidance say? 

The 2010 Best Practice guidance says very little about advanced driving proficiency. Paragraph 70 of the guidance reads: 

“Many local authorities rely on the standard car driving licence as evidence of driving proficiency. Others require some further driving test to be taken. Local authorities will want to consider carefully whether this produces benefits which are commensurate with the costs involved for would-be drivers, the costs being in terms of both money and broader obstacles to entry to the trade. However, they will note that the Driving Standards Agency provides a driving assessment specifically designed for taxis.” 

Just over half (55%) of licensing authorities have a requirement for taxi drivers to complete further driving assessments as part of their licence conditions. 54% of authorities also have similar requirements for PH drivers. 

While many authorities have additional proficiency requirements for their drivers, it is not compulsory.

What’s changing? 

The industry will need to wait until the Government publish the results of their best practice consultation to find out whether these rules will change. 

The consultation version of the updated best practice guidance states: 

“ 6.6. The Road Safety Statement published in 2019 stated that “The need to improve road safety does not end with the driving test; nor does it exclude those who drive or ride professionally or as part of their job.” Licensing authorities should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to evidence a higher degree of driving ability as would be expected of a professional driver.” 

“6.7. The application of a higher standard than private motorists is considered appropriate and proportionate and is consistent with other elements of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing, e.g. medical and vision assessments” 

From a safety perspective, these recommendations make perfect sense. Taxi and private hire (PH) licensing rules are in place ultimately to protect the public.  

Everything from DBS Checks to vehicle rules are there to ensure that passengers using taxi and PH services are safe. It makes sense that taxi and PH drivers are held to a higher standard of ability than regular drivers.  

But we’ll need to wait to find out whether the guidance will be introduced as is, or with amendments following the consultation.  

What does it mean for the industry?

Well, potentially very little.  

Unlike the statutory standards, where licensing authorities must provide justification if they don’t follow the rules, the best practice guidance is just that, guidance.  

It is not statutory so it’s entirely at the licensing authority's discretion whether they introduce advanced driver proficiency tests.  

Many licensing authorities are keen to keep entry barriers to the trade low, to try and encourage more drivers to join or stay in the industry.  

The number of new drivers joining the industry is at one of its lowest levels of all time. In Glasgow, no new taxi licences have been issued for the past 2 years. 

Adding additional requirements, like advanced driving tests is likely to be a low priority.  

Regardless of the consultation outcome, for the next few years it seems unlikely that things will change. Authorities that already do these tests will continue to do so. Licensing authorities that don't, probably won’t introduce them.

National Minimum Standards 

Recommendations for advanced driving proficiency are unlikely to change the industry in the short-term. But they will likely be a part of national minimum standards for the trade, when (or if) they are introduced.  

The Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards and the new Best Practice Guidance will likely form the starting point for national minimum licensing standards.  

The industry has been calling for national standards for several years now. But there is still no sight of them on the horizon. 

It looks like we’ll be waiting a few more years yet.