Conservative GLA member Richard Tracey wants to cut the Knowledge test for black taxi drivers by two-thirds
The black taxi industry has questioned new proposals from Conservative London Assembly member Richard Tracey to eliminate barriers to entry for taxi drivers.
In a report out today, Tracey recommends that the industry implement eight for changes in order to “compete with increasingly popular app-based private hire firms such as Uber”, including reducing the entry requirements for the famous “Knowledge” test by two-thirds.
Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), told City PM he questioned why “anybody, anywhere, would suggest lowering the gold standard that London taxis provide”.
“We would be happy to be part of a long-term review about how the knowledge is taught, conducted and tested, subject that there would be a proviso that there would not be any reduction in the standards,” he added.