Consultation finds divided views on taxi test's future

A consultation on a street knowledge test for taxi drivers in Aberdeen has suggested opinion is divided on its future.

A report to councillors showed that out of about 1,800 responses, 45.5% said the test should stay with 43.1% calling for it to be removed.

The ride-hailing app, Uber, had urged the city council to remove the test, which it feels would see more drivers enter the trade, and help meet demand from customers.

The taxi industry said there was no need to change the current system as it was "working".

The consultation had asked whether the test should remain for both taxi and private hire drivers, an amended test for private hire applicants be introduced or the test removed for only private hire applicants.

Just 4% of those who responded favoured an amended test for private hire applicants and 7.4% preferred no test for private hire applicants.

The report said: "Those favouring the current position stressed the importance of maintaining standards and reducing the reliance on sat-nav technology.

"Those who advocated no test at all were of the view that the technology had made it outdated and was a barrier to entering the trade."

Some respondents said other cities did not require a test but council officials pointed out the test was required in other major Scottish cities.

People were also asked about the current limit on taxi licences which is set at 1,079 with 484 drivers currently licenced.

The report added: "There does appear to have been a degree of misunderstanding as many people who advocated a change to the limit stated it was due to the difficulty in obtaining a taxi at peak times in particular.

"As the number of licences is significantly under the limit at present it is unlikely any change to the limit would have a discernible impact on that."

The availability of taxis has in the past been described as a "real issue", but Aberdeen Taxis director Chris Douglas previously told BBC Scotland News there had recently been an increase in drivers.

He added the system was working and did not require change.

Earlier this year, Bob Keiller, from business body Our Union Street, suggested that having a knowledge test was a poor economic decision.