Drive

Drive

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When you hit your 21's you will be given a drive pack, this basically goes through the steps that enable you to legally be able to drive a taxi. essentially it is a two part test.

Part 1 Wheelchair assessment

Part 2 Driving test

Part 1

Every Licensed taxi has to be able to accept a wheelchair. therefore the driver has to show that they can safely get the wheelchair in the cab, secure it (along with the passenger) and safely get the chair out of the cab again.

In reality, its not that hard, there is a basic laid down procedure and if you follow that then you will be ok

You do need to pass this step and can fail, if you have not got this part when on your finals, they will not give you your badge.

Part 2

Is essentially a driving test, this takes approx 40 mins during which time you will be asked to perform certain manoeuvre's and show that you can drive the cab safely.

For most people it will have been some time since you have taken your test (in my case over 24 years) and you will have picked up many bad habits, but even if your 20 and just taken your test, you will still be required to take a test in a cab.

Within this is also questions on the highway code and some "Cabology" questions - Basically questions about driving a cab and some basic info e.g. tyre pressure.

The Carriage office recommend that you find somewhere to take some lessons - my COP had used Elite run by Eddie Sadlier based at Nationwide Taxi's in Dunbridge Street

020 7729 8046 or 07932 605456

and as they were reasonably local they suited me.

As of June 06 they charge approx £280 this gives you a 1hour assessment lesson, 3 x 2 hr lessons, 1 hour lesson before the test and use of the cab during the test, you are also given a copy of the highway code and a book of "most used Cabology questions"

And I can thoroughly recommend them.

I had both Dave and John on my lessons and met Eddie on my assessment and at the driving test

Both Eddie and John are great blokes and Dave, he is something else, be prepared to have the laugh with him, and if you enjoy having a bit of banter, then Dave's your man. But even with all the joking they are professional in what they do.

My assessment was interesting to say the least, basically you are shown the controls of the taxi, given some instructions and then asked to drive the cab following the instructions. At the end of my hour I had gone though two amber lights, not used my mirror hundreds of times and was so tense, in fear of denting his cab that I couldn't have driven worse.

But Dave being Dave was upbeat about my lesson.

On my second of my two hour drives I had John in the back and was not driving very well and it got worse when he asked me to reverse round the corner and about 1/2 way round I totally didn't see a car coming up the road.

To be honest that did me a favour as I started to relax after that and drive with more awareness around me.

The reverses and parallel parking were still giving me a problem on the day of the test, but as you do not get asked to do every manoeuvre I hoped that I would not be asked to do these.

There was a test before mine, and Dave thought that the guy taking his test had failed, as while out on our lesson, he thought that he had seen the cab not in the bus lane (see note) but as it turned out, It was not this particular cab and he had passed with a clean sheet

(on your driving test you are marked and if you do not do something properly ( e.g. mirrors) than you can get a Minor mark or a Major, you are allowed a few Minors but no Majors, so a clean sheet is very good)

So I am feeling the pressure even before my test starts.

Eddie took me up to the waiting room and tried to keep the conversation going, the lady examiner came out and checked my details - driving license and passport (I have an old paper license)

The examiner then takes you to the cab and asks you to put the wheelchair in the cab, once in, they then ask you to take the chair out again. Once the chair is in, and are happy with how you have completed it, they may ask you to take it straight out again, if there is something wrong, they may ask if you are happy with how you have completed the loading of the chair, so you do have a chance to correct any mistakes.

Then it was onto the drive, which I was pretty happy with, I had to do a parallel park, and right at the end I felt the well just nudge the kerb, but it was very slight, I had to complete an emergency stop and a taxi assessment (basically turn the cab round, and the best way is at a junction and swing the cab round in one go) about half way through the test I was feeling fairly happy and when the examiner started talking, I took the opportunity to talk to her and this relaxed me more, and bar possibly 1 incident where someone wanted to let me out and I wouldn't go, I was happy with my drive.

When back at the centre, the examiner asked me to get in the back of the cab and asked me some basic highway code and some of the cab questions, the only ones I had a problem with were the "Urban Clearway" and a speed limit question.

After that the examiner said they were happy to tell me I had passed and had a clean sheet, Eddie joined us in the cab, and if you fail you can get a debrief from the examiner.

There was a lad taking his test after me and he was wound up as tight as a spring, Eddie tried to use my sheets to show him he does not have to worry, but I want not sure - I wish him luck.

Eddie then gives you a pack of bits starting with an accountants number, some business cards and a book of his suburb runs and with a shake of his hand, that's it - thanks guys.

(One thing to remember, that although you are taking lessons and a test in a cab, you are not licensed, therefore in bus lanes you must act as if you are diving in a normal car and follow any restrictions, If the bus lane shows that due to the time you are able to use the lane, then you MUST use it, or you will fail your test. If you drive in the bus lane because the sign says that taxi's can use it, but you are inside the restricted time when cars can use the lane, you will also fail because of this) - I hope this explains it.