- Target:
- Helen Chapman General Manager Transport For London, Taxi & Private Hire.
- Region:
- United Kingdom
Historically, we have been licensed by either TFL or the relevant local authority in whose area we live.
Clarification should be given by TFL that in fact, such drivers do not even need to be licensed nor need to take any language test.
As a comparison, organisers and suppliers of vehicles used at events such as Wimbledon, London Fashion Week, BFI Film Festival and the Farnborough Airshow, all use drivers who are employed by organisations whose principal business is not that of passenger transportation. Anecdotally, Ukti, the government's own trade and export organisation, uses unlicensed drivers to convey VIP passengers in and out of London to the airshow at Farnborough, even though this is a biennial event the principal is the same.
TFL has already changed the original requirement for language proficiency, from those coming from a majority English speaking nation to a blanket requirement for all drivers. The proposal and requirements are clearly ill-conceived and appear to be policy made without serious consideration.
TFL are using the blanket requirement as a smoke screen to cover the fact that an inordinate number of non-English or poor English speakers have skewed the PH driver numbers.
TFL’s contention is grossly insulting to assume that those who have been driving professionally for very many years are unable to communicate with their passengers.
The imposition of this requirement, in greater part, is due to TfL in registering a large number of inexperienced, foreign drivers due to poorly worded and inept legislation written by TFL and the Department of Transport into the original Private Hire regulations that does not allow for the restriction of new PH drivers.
TFL are now afraid of being accused of racism if only non English speaking drivers are required to undertake the proficiency test in English, so require all drivers take the test.
TFL should set aside any sensitivity it has as it is common sense that only non English speakers be tested.
We, the undersigned, wish to condemn in the strongest possible terms, TFL's intention to impose an English language proficiency test on all PH drivers. Not only is this yet another cost to drivers but a totally unnecessary requirement for all native born speakers and those who have been here for many years.
In the main, we are specialist drivers that work in the film & television production industry. We are contracted and paid by the production company, whose main business is not passenger transportation, to convey artists, directors, producers, and various personnel and equipment in the process of producing either a film, television production or even adverts.
We have no contact with members of the public nor are we paid by passengers or make ourselves available for the purposes of Private Hire via the Mini-cab trade.
We therefore request that TFL review these new regulations and allow driver exemptions to the English language proficiency test, specifically all UK nationals who were born in the U.K. or all others that have been resident for over 7 years.
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The Exemption from Language Proficiency Testing PHV drivers petition to Helen Chapman General Manager Transport For London, Taxi & Private Hire. was written by Gezar Zia and is in the category Roads & Transport at GoPetition.