Can someone tell me the ins and outs of becoming a taxi driver.

Please feel free to pm me.

Step 1: Move to Fir Vale

Step 2: Lose all knowledge of Sheffield roads and places

Step 3: sit in a queue blocking a road

Step 4: go on strike

You need to be licensed (which is done by the Licensing section of the council).

But first, you need to -
1. Pass a knowledge test (i.e., a verbal test of different routes around the city; this also tests your language skills in the process).
2. Pass a medical examination.
3. Pay the necessary fees.

Then you can make an application to be licensed. Your application form will state that you have passed both the knowledge test and the medical examination.

On your application form, you must declare any convictions (including any non-motoring offences - and 'spent' convictions must also be declared). You must also declare if any council has previously refused you a license. Failure to answer questions honestly may render you liable for prosecution for perjury - and a police check will be undertaken which will reveal all convictions.

If there are any problems, e.g., medical, certain types of convictions, recent motor offences (including speeding), language skills, etc., you will be referred to the Licensing Board. This consists of up to 5 councillors, and a council solicitor, who will listen to your case and question you, before making a determination.

If you successfully pass all these stages, you get licensed - usually for 18 months. But then you've got to buy a taxi!

The taxi must -
1. Not be over 3 years of age.
2. Meet certain standards.
2. Pass the council's vehicle examination for road worthiness.

Ahem. Now that the class jokers have moved along, I'll see if I can give you a bit more knowledge! ;)

There is a knowledge test to complete ('the knowledge') where you are tested on local road knowledge. There's also a physical exam to go thorugh. I don't think there's a practical test, but I could be wrong.

Good luck! :thumbsup:

EDIT: Just read what RedRobbo said! :D

Why do you want to know?

the reason for the strike is that the council are handing out so many licences that the market is saturated and nobody can make a decent living at it.

Sorry about the tone of my post, but it was a satirical comment.

The queues are a problem to the taxi drivers themselves - coz if they are queuing they aren't earning - hence the strike :thumbsup:

Class joker :roll: :suspect: ;) k

1st You have got to develop the thought that you have a devine right to drive however you like and sod everyone else on the road

2nd You have to pretend you don't know where you are going at all times so as to milk as much money as possible off the customer

3rd You have to learn to lock them in until they have paid, so they don't run off...........and

4th You have to learn how to never go out at the weekend again and get some tips off Kim and Agey on how to clean sick up


:hihi:

Originally posted by Kristian
I don't think there's a practical test, but I could be wrong.



Sorry guys but there is a practical test. Its taken from the council's Transport depot on Staniforth Road. Brief details of what it consists of can be found here (http://www.horizonschoolofmotoring.co.uk/taxi.htm)

When I did that for a while, back in my old home town, I contacted a private hire firm who agreed to take me on if I passed the tests. They gave me back up and support and told me what to expect. Pretty cool of them really. It may be worth having a little ring round and see what you get. Goiod luick.

P.S., it was pretty tiring at times, the hours can be very long but was a brilliant laugh all the same.

Where do you start exactly?? How many years drivng experience do you need??

Try looking on the Sheffield Council website. Info can be obtain from them but not sure who or where. Might have to have a good look around the site then if all else fails e-mail someone asking for the correct person to contact.

They should then send out all the information thst you need.

Try E-mailing the following taxi.licensing@sheffield.gov.uk. They should be able to send the info you want. Or call (0114) 273 4005 or (0114) 273 4690

Don't you also need to go under hypnosis in order to forget the meanings of the following words?

Indicator
Give + Way
Priority
Speed + Limit
Courtesy
No + U + Turn
Shortest + Route
Double + Yellow + Lines

I think they do that after!! The requirements are relatively difficult so I don't know how many of them actually manage to pass!!

I want to add my bit.

Please i beg you don't .You get abused for driving like a tw@t,you get abused
for being a tw@t and most of all i endure the tw@ts most nights.

So i will be your abuser ,and you sound like a nice guy.Think about doing somthing else like bus driving ,now theres a thought .:gag: