JUST 73 per cent of taxi drivers who have taken a controversial new "local knowledge test" have passed.

From last month, new rules introduced by Barrow Borough Council require the 350 licensed taxi drivers in the borough to pass a general knowledge test featuring sections of mental arithmetic and local geography.

New applicants for licences now need to undergo the test and existing drivers will need to take the exam when their licence is up for renewal. Failure to reach the pass mark will result in their licence being revoked.

Taxi drivers have a maximum three attempts to take the test - if they fail the third test, they will be banned from resitting it for six months.

The general knowledge test is made up of 30 questions. A score of 75 per cent or higher is required to pass and successful candidates are sent a certificate of recognition.

Figures released to Barrow taxi driver Bob Mullen this week show that out of the first 48 who have taken the test, only 35 had passed - a rate of 73 per cent.

Mr Mullen, a taxi driver of 14 years and a representative of Furness Taxi Trade Association, has described the test as "insulting".

He said: "Drivers voiced opposition to this from when it was first proposed. "The overwhelming opinion was that this test should be for new drivers only.

"Some drivers have more than 30 years' experience and feel insulted that this hasn't been taken into account and that yet again we have been railroaded into doing something we don't need to do."

Taxi driver Roy Worthington, who passed the test last week when his licence was up for renewal, said the test was fairly straightforward.

The local geography test, Mr Worthington said, including being asked "what areas of Barrow certain streets are in" and "having to describe the route you would take to get from A to B".

Factfile

BARROW Borough Council has issued the following guidance to taxi drivers about the new local and general knowledge test:

The test comprises 30 questions, 20 of which are multiple choice.

Of the remaining 10; five questions ask the driver where particular locations are (what area of town) and five questions require the driver to "describe the route they would use to get from A to B" using street names.

We have no control over where a driver's jobs will take them; Dalton, Askam, the station or further afield, but they must have sound knowledge of the borough and its main roads.

Existing drivers will have come across various disability groups in their previous years as drivers so should know how to treat these groups of individuals.

Furthermore, disability awareness will be part of a bigger awareness session focused primarily on Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) but also including equalities and mental health awareness.

Finally, a driver who has read their licence conditions, is aware of their responsibilities as a licenced and professional driver and who is able to help people in the course of their duties should pass this test.