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Taxi Training

Before you are issued with a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Drivers Licence you must pass a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire test assessment. At Trident Driver Training we can familiarise you with the contents of the test and ensure your driving is to the correct standard to pass this assessment.

The DSA strongly recommended that you take professional instruction prior to taking the assessment.

The taxi assessment (test) is reflective of modern driving practices. The standard is set at a level suitable for the full driving licence holder, which is, as you can imagine, of a higher standard than the UK learner driver test.

You must provide a roadworthy vehicle suitable for the purpose of the test, which must include head restraints and seat belts follow this link for more information on vehicles suitable for assessment or your could always use ours if your having training from us.

The eyesight test

At the start of your taxi assessment test you will be asked to read in good daylight (with the aid of glasses or contact lenses if worn) a registration mark fixed to a motor vehicle with letters and figures 79.4

millimetres high at a distance of 20.5 metres (20 metres for a new style number plate). If you fail the eyesight test, you will be unable to take

the driving part but will still be able to continue with the wheelchair section.

The practical test

The practical test will last for about 40 minutes, depending on traffic.During the test you should drive in a natural way, and should not adjust your driving to what you may feel the examiner would expect to see.

The examiner will give you clear instructions which you should follow throughout the test. During the practical test, you will be examined on the following:

  • awareness and anticipation,
  • Effective planning of prevailing road and traffic conditions
  • Correct use of speed
  • Emergency stop
  • A manoeuvre involving reversing
  • Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Car related exercise
  • passenger safety and comfort
  • Wheelchair element (for Black Cab style only)
  • The wheelchair exercise

If you are taking the taxi test with the wheelchair exercise you should also be able to Demonstrate your ability to securely erect the wheelchair ramps, floor ramp etc, safely install the wheelchair in your vehicle, secure seat belts/safety harness and also secure any wheel belts/clamps fitted to your vehicle, reverse the process by taking off the belts, harnesses and clamps, taking the wheelchair out of the vehicle and putting the ramps away.