Taxi driver's knowledge levels

280special · 26-11-2011 07:06PM #1

Mods, please move this if need be, not sure if it should be here or not.

Can someone tell me what the requirements are to qualify for a Taxi driving licence with regards to local knowledge or the ability to find the shortest/quickest route ?

I know that they are fairly strict about this kind of thing in London but after some recent experiences I am wondering what are the rules here, both Dublin City and rural.

LighterGuy · 26-11-2011 07:07PM

Better off asking in the taxi forum mate. Best to get answers from people who've done the test themselves. But here's hoping a mod moves it for you

wolf moon · 26-11-2011 07:10PM

The title of this thread made me laugh.

Oranage2 · 26-11-2011 07:10PM

Last week I asked a black taxi driver to take me to Coolock and he asked if that was a pub.

I assume you just take 2 passport size photos and spell your name somewhat right then you get your license

phasers · 26-11-2011 07:12PM

From what I remember there's little or no required knowledge.

amdublin · 26-11-2011 07:13PM

Oranage2 wrote: »

Last week I asked a black taxi driver to take me to Cookock and he asked if that was a pub.

I assume you just take 2 passport size photos and spell your name somewhat right then you get your license

If (s)he was white would you have mentioned her colour?

El Guapo! · 26-11-2011 07:13PM

Oranage2 wrote: »

Last week I asked a black taxi driver to take me to Cookock and he asked if that was a pub.

I assume you just take 2 passport size photos and spell your name somewhat right then you get your license

You'll be slaughtered for that one.

Chuck Stone · 26-11-2011 07:13PM

You must be able to drive a car... I think..

UglyBolloxFace · 26-11-2011 07:14PM

Oranage2 wrote: »

Last week I asked a black taxi driver to take me to Cookock and he asked if that was a pub.

I assume you just take 2 passport size photos and spell your name somewhat right then you get your license

I'd have to agree with the driver -I've never heard of Cookock either.

CrazyRabbit · 26-11-2011 07:14PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

You must be able to drive a car... I think..

Not from what I've seen from being in the passenger seat in some taxi's. I've had more close calls in 3 months while taking a taxi to work than in 11 years driving a bike.

John Doe1 · 26-11-2011 07:21PM

I you went through primary school you pass the test

InkSlinger67 · 26-11-2011 07:26PM

I believe they need a degree in the college of "Loife" with a masters in "annoying passenger techniques" in order to get their plates.

280special · 26-11-2011 07:35PM

Sounds like mine was not the only experience of taxi drivers not having a clue about good routing !

Taxi from Stephen's Green to Botanic Road anyone ? Via Malahide ? That was the driver's intended route anyway, needless to say the taxi was vacated within a few yards of its journey starting !

Not the first time this has happened , even in a small rural town! A few years ago, when out with friends who were somewhat the worse for drink we had a guy who tried to do a real round-about trip that would have been about 10 miles instead of 6...Dont think he was too impressed when a sober voice from the back seat asked him WTF did he think he was going and by what route !!

44leto · 26-11-2011 07:48PM

Taxi mens knowledge is mastermind level

They know everything.

wonderfulname · 26-11-2011 07:50PM

They don't actually need to know anything, I think there might be an optional cert of some kind similar to the mandatory qualification in london but I've yet to meet a taxi driver with one.

castletownman · 26-11-2011 07:56PM

My father got a taxi license last year. He had to sit a test very similar to the driver's theory test about his knowledge of the local area, in his case county Wexford. MCQ questions on say the name of the street that <town's> train station is on etc.

Hope that helps

Dotrel · 26-11-2011 08:03PM

Oranage2 wrote: »

Last week I asked a black taxi driver to take me to Coolock and he asked if that was a pub.

I assume you just take 2 passport size photos and spell your name somewhat right then you get your license

Well in fairness if you start your journey in London you'll be lucky to find a driver who knows the way.

kerash · 26-11-2011 08:05PM

280special wrote: »

Mods, please move this if need be, not sure if it should be here or not.

Can someone tell me what the requirements are to qualify for a Taxi driving licence with regards to local knowledge or the ability to find the shortest/quickest route ?

I know that they are fairly strict about this kind of thing in London but after some recent experiences I am wondering what are the rules here, both Dublin City and rural.

There is a knowledge test.

http://taxiregulation.nationaltransport.ie/

taxiregsite wrote:

SPSV operators should have a good working knowledge of major routes and destinations

The driver should always be able to bring you the shortest possible route. Though there may be new estates etc. were it would be unreasonable to expect a driver to be fully familiar with.
A good Taxi driver shouldn't charge the customer for their mistakes.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 26-11-2011 08:15PM

amdublin wrote: »

If (s)he was white would you have mentioned her colour?

For the love of God why does this always come up when colour is mentioned.

The taxi driver was black, and probably from Africa and a significant number of people complain about a bad service from this sector of the taxi industry - so yes IMO its ok to identify the colour or race of someone.

OP I'm sure this has changed now, but I done the PSV (taxi) test about seven years ago, at the time it was simple enough.

You only needed a 70% pass rate, and the area test only made up 30% of the test - so you could completely fail the area test but pass the relevant questions on the rules & regs and walk out with a licence..

Good and bad drivers, I've had good service from both Irish drivers and black drivers.

I don't get into the taxi driven by a black and expect a poor service, and it annoys the fvck out of me when I'm getting someone a cab and they refuse if its a black or they tell me they don't want a black taxi driver.

Mike 1972 · 26-11-2011 08:15PM

I really dunno why giving directions to a taxi driver should really be a massive issue for anyone other than a visitor to the city

Is it really such a big deal to give directions to a taxi driver when going home for the night ? -hell Id rather do that then leaving the choice of route up to them and ending up passing through Ballybrack en route from Glasnevin to Finglas.

Fox Disgusting Tiddlywinks wrote: »

I've had good service from both Irish drivers and black drivers.

What of drivers who are both ?

Palmy · 26-11-2011 08:31PM

Being an Ex Dublin Taxi driver,I always gave the customer options on what way they wanted me to go,at differant times of the day or night the easy option is not always the best..EG..2am someone gets in outside of Capitol lounge and my car is heading up towards camden st.They want to go to Stillorgen, I would give them 4 options.

1...Go around the green avoiding camden st and the traffic,pop out the top of lession st then out the N11

2...Try my luck in the traffic up camden st and go around and come out at the top of lession st via adeliade rd..then up the N11

3...Up camden street around up passed the Barge Pub and up through goatstown rd..

4...You can tell me the way you want to go,your the customer.

To be honest its not worth the hassle taking someone the wrong way.I just wanted to take them home and move onto the next fare.

The reason they take you the wrong way is because they dont know where they are going.If someone ever got in and i didnt know i told them i didnt.:o

Palmy · 26-11-2011 08:39PM

Just to note,I had an English girl a few years ago who flew in to try out for the x factor.She jumped in and asked if it would be the same fare she payed this morning to come to Croke park.I said how much did you pay the taxi from the airport to croke park,she answered €28,Jesus i said it shouldn't have been more than €12-14 at the most.I did ask if it was a coloured guy which she answered NO he was Irish.So dont point the finger at all the coloured guys.

amdublin · 26-11-2011 08:46PM

Fox Disgusting Tiddlywinks wrote: »

For the love of God why does this always come up when colour is mentioned.

The taxi driver was black, and probably from Africa and a significant number of people complain about a bad service from this sector of the taxi industry - so yes IMO its ok to identify the colour or race of someone.

OP I'm sure this has changed now, but I done the PSV (taxi) test about seven years ago, at the time it was simple enough.

You only needed a 70% pass rate, and the area test only made up 30% of the test - so you could completely fail the area test but pass the relevant questions on the rules & regs and walk out with a licence..

Good and bad drivers, I've had good service from both Irish drivers and black drivers.

I don't get into the taxi driven by a black and expect a poor service, and it annoys the fvck out of me when I'm getting someone a cab and they refuse if its a black or they tell me they don't want a black taxi driver.

For the love of god because the colour of his or her skin does not matter.

wonderfulname · 26-11-2011 08:46PM

Palmy wrote: »

Just to note,I had an English girl a few years ago who flew in to try out for the x factor.She jumped in and asked if it would be the same fare she payed this morning to come to Croke park.I said how much did you pay the taxi from the airport to croke park,she answered €28,Jesus i said it shouldn't have been more than €12-14 at the most.I did ask if it was a coloured guy which she answered NO he was Irish.So dont point the finger at all the coloured guys.

I've actually had more hassle with Irish drivers than black ones, although to be fair it's very rare to have any, and I'll never forget the behaviour I witnessed of some Irish driver towards foreign ones during the strikes about 2? years ago, made me sick to my stomach. Racism seems to be a bigger problem in the industry than any distinguishable sub-group doing a bad job.

wonderfulname · 26-11-2011 08:48PM

amdublin wrote: »

For the love of god because the colour of his or her skin does not matter.

I'd back this up, when you're talking about an individual it's not the same as talking about overall statistics.

Turtyturd · 26-11-2011 08:48PM

You have to know how to drive....otherwise the only job you can get is as a bouncer.

chughes · 26-11-2011 08:49PM

Got a SPSV licence earlier this year. To pass you need to get at least 80% in industry knowledge and the same in area knowledge. If you get less than 80% in one test, you fail overall test.

As I understand it, the pass rates for non-Irish is 50% in both tests.

As the tests are multiple choice computer tests, you would need to study for both. As someone born and bred in Dublin, much of the area test wasn't too bad but there are always some tricky questions. Given the high pass mark, you can't afford to make too many slip ups.

Like most other people, I wouldn't have had a high regard for taxi drivers but this whole licence process has altered my view.

With regard to the non-Irish drivers, I understand that it was a deliberate policy to make the tests as easy as possible for them. I do believe it should be a level playing field for everyone in this regard.

Sky King · 26-11-2011 08:52PM

Surprised the grammar nazis aren't on asking to correct the thread title.

kincsem · 26-11-2011 08:53PM

The taxi was black, obviously.

Some people are so sensitive.

wonderfulname · 26-11-2011 08:55PM

chughes wrote: »

Got a SPSV licence earlier this year. To pass you need to get at least 80% in industry knowledge and the same in area knowledge. If you get less than 80% in one test, you fail overall test.

As I understand it, the pass rates for non-Irish is 50% in both tests...

With regard to the non-Irish drivers, I understand that it was a deliberate policy to make the tests as easy as possible for them. I do believe it should be a level playing field for everyone in this regard.

You are aware that pass rate means the amount of people who pass rather than the % they need to achieve to pass? It's the same test for everyone.

Kiera · 26-11-2011 08:57PM

Fox Disgusting Tiddlywinks wrote: »

For the love of God why does this always come up when colour is mentioned.

The taxi driver was black, and probably from Africa and a significant number of people complain about a bad service from this sector of the taxi industry - so yes IMO its ok to identify the colour or race of someone.

WTF? Your opinion is fúcked up so! The colour of the taxi drivers skin shouldnt come into it at all!

And lol @ probably from Africa. Could he not have been from London...

Taxi driver's knowledge levels

Comments