Taxi drivers may have to wear a uniform under NTA plans
A review of driver licensing for small public service vehicles (SPSVs), which also includes hackneys and limousines, is to examine the possible benefits of introducing a dress code policy for licence holders.
The NTA pointed out that taxi drivers are already expected to wear smart clothing in many jurisdictions, although nothing in particular is specified, while uniforms are required to be worn in some parts of Australian, Spain, and Canada.
In Edinburgh, drivers are required to wear a shirt with a collar, smart trousers or skirt, and shoes, while items such as runners, denims, and t-shirts are forbidden.
A public consultation discussion paper just launched by the NTA has sought the views of the industry and members of the public on the merits of a formal dress code.
The NTA is also concerned at the aging profile of taxi drivers and the rate of attrition from the industry. Almost two-thirds of current licence holders are aged over 50 years with almost a third are aged over 60.
The NTA noted that the number of active SPSV driver licenses has fallen by 42% since it peaked in May 2009 with 47,259, while the number of licensed vehicles had declined by 23% from a 2008 peak of 27,429.
The falling number of taxis and taxi drivers has been attributed to the decline in the economy as well as increased vehicle standards, a prohibition on license transfers expect upon death and a 2010 decision to restrict new licences to wheelchair accessible taxis.
However, the NTA said the size of Ireland’s national SPSV fleet was still high by international standards. It has the eighth largest fleet in Europe on a per capita basis. A total of 21,246 SPSVs were licensed at the end of last year, of which 17,249 were taxis together with 27,400 licensed drivers — the lowest levels in the past decade.
The NTA also pointed out that not all license holders are actively working in the industry.
It said the number of new drivers entering the industry remained stable each year with 519 new driving licenses issued in 2015.
However, 122 driver licenses were surrendered last year, while 1,985 were allowed to lapse permanently. The NTA also revealed that just over half of all candidates who apply to become taxi drivers successfully pass the SPSV Driver Entry Test which examines both industry and local area knowledge.
Since the tests were introduced in July 2009, only 54% of more than 9,000 applicants have passed. Of the unsuccessful candidates, just over half made no attempt to re-sit the test. On average, an applicant had to sit the test almost three times to pass.
The NTA pointed out that, unlike in some other countries, once passed there is no compulsory on-going training for Irish taxi drivers and it is rarely undertaken by licence holders.
Other areas under review are medical fitness, age restrictions, language proficiency and the requirement for taxi drivers in some larger counties to have full area knowledge.
“The aim of this review is to allow consumers and the SPSV sector to have confidence in the suitability of the system for driver licensing and to ensure that legitimate and competent operators and drivers are rewarded fairly by operating under a regulatory framework that is adequately enforced and competitive,” an NTA spokesperson said.
