Aberdeen City Council’s licensing committee has unanimously voted to retain the Street Knowledge Test for all taxi and private hire drivers, deferring any further review for two years. The decision, made at a contentious meeting on Wednesday, follows a significant public consultation that revealed a deeply divided opinion on the necessity of the exam.
The Street Knowledge Test requires aspiring drivers to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Aberdeen’s road network, landmarks, and routes. This requirement has become a central point of contention, particularly since Uber was granted a licence to operate in the city in the summer of 2024.
Uber, alongside prominent business figures, has consistently called for the test’s abolition for private hire drivers, arguing it acts as an unnecessary barrier to entry in the modern age of satellite navigation technology.
The council’s recent consultation, which garnered approximately 1,800 responses, highlighted the split: 45.5% of participants supported keeping the test for all drivers, while a close 43.1% advocated for its complete removal. A smaller proportion favoured either a modified test or its removal solely for private hire drivers.
Matthew Freckelton, Uber’s UK Head of Cities, emphasised that removing the test would align Aberdeen with “national best practise,” citing Edinburgh and Glasgow – cities with larger and more intricate transport infrastructures – which do not mandate a street knowledge test for private hire drivers. He argued that a more dynamic transport network is “the lifeblood of any hospitality sector,” and that a lack of available taxis deters people from venturing into the city centre, harming the night-time economy.
Bob Keiller, chairman of Our Union Street, a body dedicated to revitalising the city centre, echoed these concerns. He contended that taxi shortages are “killing inward investment” and causing organisations to “actively avoid coming to Aberdeen” for conferences and meetings, citing reports from P&J Live. Mr Keiller also highlighted safety implications, stating that “the lack of taxis is a serious health and safety hazard for females,” referencing a consultation respondent who faced a 90-minute wait.
Conversely, representatives from Aberdeen’s traditional taxi operators, including Aberdeen Taxis and Rainbow City Taxis, strongly advocated for the retention of the test. They asserted that a recently revamped version of the exam is proving effective, with “more than 120 people already passing the test this year.” Chris Douglas of Aberdeen Taxis noted: “I don’t remember a time where a test delivered 120 new drivers in a year,” suggesting the current system is indeed fostering growth in the driver pool.
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The Disability Equity Partnership also voiced its support for maintaining the test. Hussein Patwa, co-chair, stressed the critical role of knowledgeable drivers for vulnerable passengers. “For someone with a disability or a long-term health condition, the quality and knowledge of the driver can be the difference between independence and isolation,” he stated.
The meeting itself was characterised by what has been called a “raucous and febrile” atmosphere, with members of the public gallery frequently heckling those advocating for the test’s removal. Licensing convener Gill Al-Samarai intervened multiple times to restore order.
Despite the heated debate, councillors ultimately sided with the existing policy, agreeing to revisit the matter in two years. Council licensing solicitor Sandy Munro confirmed the outcome, stating: “The upshot is essentially the majority of the policy remains unchanged. And obviously leave the street knowledge test as is the current position to require the Street Knowledge Test for all applicants.”
