The news states that a third of London taxi drivers would fail the proposed English test so they're cancelling it. So much for safety!

Thing is, the third that failed are all born and bred white Londoners, blaring out Talksport and blaming everything on foreigners.

I wouldn't risk my life on any form of London Transport tbf. They're all crazy lunatics, regardless of what they drive! I walk when I am down there and yes, even if it is ten miles away! Probably still get there quicker.

I bet it isn't just London Taxis drivers!

UpTheBeehole wrote:Thing is, the third that failed are all born and bred white Londoners, blaring out Talksport and blaming everything on foreigners.

I asked a london cabbie (who fit this description) for directions down there not long ago and he replied with 'how would I know?'

It's minicab rather than taxi drivers. It's all part of the battle with trying to regulate Uber.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transpor ... 88011.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What has essay writing skills got to do with driving some passengers around?

Satnav has taken over with the Uber crowd and of course it's trendy to use app based services.

Give me a black cab with a Talksport listening driver of any colour, creed or persuasion as long as he has done the Knowledge.

I'm down there in August and will probably be using a black cab or two (can you say black cab on here ?).

I will let you know what kind I get.

You don't have to go as far as London to find taxi drivers that wouldn't pass a driving test let alone an English test.

Pendle Community radio and not Talksport is the choice of station.

I'd rather they did something about the unlicensed ones down there or those that drive down from Birmingham, work all weekend and then head home!

Turtle sometimes signs are displayed in addition to fixed road signs warning/advising of some hazard ahead. If they can't read then at best you get inconvenience and at worst additional danger.

basil6345789 wrote:Turtle sometimes signs are displayed in addition to fixed road signs warning/advising of some hazard ahead. If they can't read then at best you get inconvenience and at worst additional danger.

So the best way to prove that you can read a sentence on a sign is to write an essay. Is this essay written while driving? Cos that would make it at least partly relevent.

Atypically stupid for you, Turtle.

Forget Taxis in London just buy an Oyster Card... job done.

UpTheBeehole wrote:Thing is, the third that failed are all born and bred white Londoners, blaring out Talksport and blaming everything on foreigners.

Why are you lefties so obsessed with colour?

UpTheBeehole wrote:Thing is, the third that failed are all born and bred white Londoners, blaring out Talksport and blaming everything on foreigners.

Is this true, or have you just made it up for "effect"?

bobinho wrote:Is this true, or have you just made it up for "effect"?

Is it ****, he just wanted to spout his self loathing identity politics crap and get a few cheap likes off like minded sheep.

basil6345789 wrote:Atypically stupid for you, Turtle.

It's not stupid at all. You explained that the reason essay writing skills is relevent to being a London Taxi driver is that sometimes signs have words on them, which implies that either you or the government thinks that's the best way to test such skills. If it's not the best way then what is, and why aren't we testing that?

Imploding Turtle wrote:It's not stupid at all. You explained that the reason essay writing skills is relevent to being a London Taxi driver is that sometimes signs have words on them, which implies that either you or the government thinks that's the best way to test such skills. If it's not the best way then what is, and why aren't we testing that?

Tonight's Standard says that the intention was to ask drivers to write a 100-130 word "essay" - double the number of words above would be more than you'd need.

I'd recommend the ability to communicate in English is a good starting point for living and working in England, especially in a job that requires frequent contact with other people, whether or not the other people speak English as their first language.

Many of the people working in tourist areas around Europe seem to be well equipped with their English language skills.

ExistentialWanderer wrote:I wouldn't risk my life on any form of London Transport tbf. They're all crazy lunatics, regardless of what they drive! I walk when I am down there and yes, even if it is ten miles away! Probably still get there quicker.

Best transport system and drivers of vehicles in the whole if England IMO

The worst are in Burnley. The town where they dont even understand the rules of a roundabout. Every morning you get some dickhead near the roundabout where do it all used to be pulling out with someone on their right. Probably why theyve dug the other one up and turned gannow into traffic lights.

Probably all them foreigners.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:The worst are in Burnley. The town where they dont even understand the rules of a roundabout. Every morning you get some dickhead near the roundabout where do it all used to be pulling out with someone on their right. Probably why theyve dug the other one up and turned gannow into traffic lights.

Probably all them foreigners.

You lost me after line three!!

Black cab drivers in London are excellent. The problem is with unregulated taxis and their drivers. But I only lived there for almost 25 years, so I wouldn't know.

Quicknick wrote:Black cab drivers in London are excellent. The problem is with unregulated taxis and their drivers. But I only lived there for almost 25 years, so I wouldn't know.

Absolutely, the black cab drivers still do 'the knowledge' which takes a lot of time and effort. Minicab drivers it seems just need a car. I drive in London regularly and my favourite minicab trait is to drive in the outside lane at 10mph below the speed limit, then eventually to pull over and turn into Aryton fu*•img Senna.