BANNED...THE TAXI DRIVERS WHO CAN'T SPEAK ENGLISH

RULES: Cabbies must speak English

Saturday February 16,2008
By Paul Broster


IMMIGRANTS were last night banned from becoming taxi drivers unless they can pass an English test.


Council chiefs are insisting all new cabbies have a good grasp of the language before they are allowed on the road.



The move in Manchester follows complaints from customers. Under a 12-month pilot scheme, applicants will sit a 15-minute oral test.



Licensing officers will ask them to “describe a recent journey you took” or “describe your favourite place in England”.



Applicants will also have to prove they understand common expressions such as “Can you drop me after the lights?” and “Can I have a receipt?”.



The test will be followed by a basic maths exam to prove the cabbie can hand out the correct change. They will also have to prove they can use an A-Z. More than half of Manchester’s 3,000 black cab and private hire drivers do not have English as a first language.



George Simms, of the Taxi Owners and Drivers Association, said English cabbies were often asked for help by foreign drivers who could not understand customers.



“In recent years the number of immigrants driving cabs has greatly increased, but we have encountered problems if they don’t speak English.”



Dave Evans, of the TGU/ Unite union, said: “There have been some issues around communication between drivers and passengers. We need to look at how to put that right.”



Council chiefs say the exams will involve “relaxed conversation” with follow-up questions to prevent people being able to learn answers parrot-fashion.



The £10 cost of the exam will be added to the £155 black cab or £207 minicab licence. Existing drivers will not be forced to take the exams.



A council spokesman said: “Taxi drivers are often the first person a visitor to the city will meet. The vast majority do an excellent job, but making sure new drivers possess the communications skills to deliver a good service is a sensible step.”

Where Sheffield leads others follow i see

We need to have a regular update from a central source to feed news to all the trade and give them a sense of togetherness. Communication is essential and language is a major factor in that of course. We therefore need communication between drivers, and drivers and customers, and not to mention the open channel between drivers and the authorities.
Would there be any mileage in the council taking on a bigger information role and selling the taxi trade a bit better to the public as was recommended by the survey report? Simply speaking english is not realy enough when problem is understanding of the job and what is expected of the drivers and by whom.