The committee report said Department for Transport (DfT) guidance was updated in November 2023 to say topographical knowledge is not required.
It said: “Given the availability, reliability and ease of use of sat-nav systems, licensing authorities should not require any topographical knowledge or navigational tests for private hire vehicle drivers.”
This would mean applicants no longer needing to know exact locations and routes to clubs, pubs, restaurants, hotels, places of interest or the district of a particular road.
Sections remaining in the test would be safety, including child sexual exploitation, general road safety and how to calculate change, policy & legislation, and equality.
The report said the test should also be strengthened with a wider range of questions and topics which protect public safety, such as disability awareness, planning routes using navigation devices, conflict avoidance, and what to do if racially abused or being subjected to other abusive comments or hate speech.
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