Brighton Taxi Driver Training

Steering Clear offers expert tuition for aspiring Brighton taxi drivers. Our lessons are centred on the requirements set out in the DVSA’s standard driving assessment. These requirements include:

• Manoeuvring to turn your vehicle to face in the opposite direction

• Approximately 10 minutes of independent driving without receiving turn-by-turn directions from the examiner

• Stopping at the side of the road, as if a passenger were getting in or out

• Industry related questions, such as “what to do if a passenger leaves property in your vehicle”

• Further questions from the  Highway Code  as well as identifying traffic signs and road markings

During your assessment you might also be asked to perform an emergency stop. If you make 9 faults or fewer, you’ll pass the assessment. However, you’ll fail if you make a single fault that the assessor believes to be serious or dangerous. At the beginning of your test, you’ll be required to read a number plate from a distance of:

• 20 metres if the vehicle is fitted with a new-style number plate

• 20.5 metres for vehicles with an old-style number plate

The new-style registration plates start with two letters followed by two numbers, e.g. CD51 ABC. You must use your glasses or contact lenses for the duration of the test if you need them to read the number plate.

If you fail the eyesight test you can’t take the driving part of the assessment. If you’re carrying out an enhanced assessment to convey people with disabilities you can still do the wheelchair exercise.

If you wish to be licenced to convey disabled passengers then you must carry out an enhanced assessment which includes a specific wheelchair exercise. If you already have qualified but want to add the wheelchair element to your licence then you can carry out an upgrade assessment.

If you wish to carry out the wheelchair test then you need to provide a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Steering Clear do not supply this type of vehicle. The wheelchair element consists of:

• Safely loading and unloading the wheelchair into the vehicle

• Using the wheelchair’s brakes to both secure and release it

• Fastening the safety belts or harnesses effectively

• Safely securing any wheel belts or clamps fitted to anchor points in the vehicle

To take your test you must bring your driving licence. If you still have a paper licence instead of the modern photo card, you must also bring your current, valid passport.

When you have successfully completed your Brighton taxi assessment, you’ll get:

• A pass certificate (form TPH10)

• A copy of your assessment

• A debrief with the examiner

Once you pass your wheelchair assessment, you’ll get:

• A pass certificate (form WTA10)

• A copy of your assessment

• A debrief with the examiner

When you’ve passed the assessment, your local council will tell you what to do next.

Our Brighton taxi driver tuition is  £28/hour.