A local authority could introduce new driving licence requirements for certain vehicles as part of new proposals which have been introduced this week.
It comes after the Highland Council launched a new consultation on whether to require knowledge tests for private hire car drivers to operate within the region.
Residents are being asked to share their opinions on whether the Highland Council should introduce knowledge tests as part of the licensing process for private hire car drivers.
Currently, only taxi drivers are required to sit and pass a knowledge test as part of the licensing process, with the rules excluding the need for private hire cars to have the same standards.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing[email protected]
Drivers must complete a knowledge test in order to operate a taxi licence
PA/GETTY
The exam involves a multiple-choice exam that tests a driver’s knowledge of the local streets and landmarks. Taxi drivers must pass both the practical and knowledge tests to operate a licence in the area.
The public consultation process, which began this week, will run for eight weeks and will close on Monday, April 28, 2025.
Official council documents detailed: “All representations received will be considered by the Highland Licensing Committee at a future meeting.”
The need for more enforcement comes after the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 was introduced almost 10 years ago.
One of these provisions amended section 13 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 which allowed licensing authorities to require an applicant for a PHC driver’s licence “to take a test of his knowledge of the area to which the licence is to relate, of the layout of the roads in that area and such other matters relating to the operation of a taxi as the authority considers desirable”.
Before this date, the Act only allowed licensing authorities to require taxi driver licence applicants to pass a knowledge test, with the council proposals hoping to change this.
It also currently contains an exemption, meaning licensing requirements do not apply to “any vehicle while it is being used for carrying passengers for its exclusive hire for a period of not less than 24 hours”.
This is often referred to as the contract exemption, the council explained, which can allow drivers and vehicles being used exclusively for contract work in this manner to fall out with the licensing regime.
The need for more scrutiny also comes after growing concerns that the existing measures have led to more abuse by private hire drivers who were found to be operating in the region without the correct knowledge base.
The council added: “Members of the Highland Council’s Licensing Committee have agreed that the council will undertake a public consultation before deciding whether to introduce knowledge testing for private hire car drivers in The Highland Council area.
“When brought into force, this will bring vehicles being used in such a manner into the licensing regime for taxis and private hire cars. This would also include tour group style operators.”
Comments have also been received that more drivers are choosing to relocate to the Highlands area to work as private hire drivers due to the relaxed rules in the area.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The consultation would look to impose the same rules on private hire vehicles as taxi drivers
PA
A public consultation will ask residents the following questions:
- Should knowledge testing be required only in the case of applicants for a new PHC driver’s licence? In other words, should existing holders of a PHC driver’s licence be exempt from the requirement to pass a knowledge test when they come to renew their licence?
- Should the knowledge test for PHC drivers be identical to the two-part knowledge test used for taxi drivers and should the pass mark and allowance for number of attempts be the same?
- From what date should the requirement for PHC driver knowledge testing come into effect?
