Bristol City Council to Scrap Outdated ‘Knowledge’ Test Element for Private Hire Drivers

In a bid to modernise its licensing process, Bristol City Council is set to eliminate the topographical component of the ‘knowledge’ test for prospective private hire drivers. The decision comes after a report by Carl Knights, the council’s senior licensing officer, highlighted that the requirement to identify city landmarks and specific roads has become obsolete in an era dominated by satellite navigation.

Local Government Lawyer reported that, at a meeting of the Public Safety and Protection Committee on 3 June, Knights explained that the test, originally designed to ensure drivers possessed detailed familiarity with Bristol’s geography, no longer reflects the practical needs of today’s transport landscape. “Concerns have been raised that sections of the test are no longer relevant. All private hire journeys are pre-booked and the vast majority of drivers rely on satellite navigation devices. As such, the current requirement to know the location of certain premises or roads is outdated,” he said.

Since the beginning of this year, 133 private hire tests have been conducted under the existing format, with only eight candidates managing to pass. Knights described the rigorous local knowledge requirement as “a significant barrier to entering the trade.”

Citing updated Department for Transport guidance along with the substantial advancements in satnav technology, council officers have recommended stripping the test of its topographical questions. The revamped test will maintain its focus on critical areas such as:

• Safety, including measures against child sexual exploitation

• General road safety and the ability to calculate change

• Policy and legislation

• Equality

Moreover, the report proposed strengthening these remaining sections by broadening the range of questions to better reflect the role’s responsibilities. Future drivers will encounter topics ranging from disability awareness and the effective use of navigation devices for route planning, to conflict avoidance and handling of racially abusive or hateful language.

Council officers believe that these changes will ensure that applicants not only understand their geographical surroundings through modern tools but also have a robust grasp of their overall responsibilities as licensed private hire drivers. “It would ensure applicants had a good understanding of their role and responsibilities as a licensed private hire driver and therefore ensure the safety of the travelling public,” said Knights.