Our new research paper has been generating some forthright conversation this week. Of particular controversy is our proposal that the ‘Knowledge’ topographical test should be scrapped as a requirement for taxi cab drivers in London.

Before you join the ranks of taxi unions in berating us, might we invite you to first undertake the following quick quiz (answers below). 

When was the knowledge introduced as a requirement for taxi drivers? 

a) 1902

b) 1865

c) 1950

How many people fail the first stage?

a) 99%

b) 65%

c) 30%

Taking the test can cost up to…

a) £10,000

b) £5,000

c) £1,000

How long on average does it take to pass the test? 

a) 5-6 months

b) 3-4 years

c) 6 months-1 year

If you answered most of the questions correctly, congratulations—you are clearly aware of the ridiculous demands placed on aspiring cabbies. If you did not, then welcome to the reality of applying for a taxi licence in 21st century Britain. 

Channel 4’s documentary on this subject, The Knowledge: The World’s Toughest Taxi Test Test highlights the difficulty of taking the test. One young man explains that he has been studying for many hours a week for 18 months—and that’s just to pass the first stage. The man in question deserves to be commended for his dedication and desire to improve his life: the regulatory system which requires him to do so does not. 

This requirement is outdated. So outdated in fact that it was established a full 21 years before the first motor car, let alone the satnav, was invented. This is perhaps unsurprising, considering that British regulations have historically held back innovation in the automobile industry. Prior to the 1896 repeal of the Locomotives on Highways Act, legislation dictated that engine-driven vehicles be restricted to driving at walking speeds and that two people had to accompany the engine. This may have been logical for steam driven traction engines moving between fields and encountering horses, but it was a serious impediment to petrol-engined cars, which were much faster. In contrast, the French benefitted from fewer restrictions and dominated car development in the years leading up to 1900 as a result. 

Abolishing the knowledge is not about unduly attacking a particular trade; on the contrary, it makes applying for a taxi licence a far less exclusionary process. This is something that needs serious consideration—the average age of taxi drivers is getting ever higher, whilst the rate of new licenses is slowing down. Making the profession more accessible benefits both aspiring drivers and the consumer. 

Answers:

1 (b)
2 (a)
3 (a)
4 (b)