Your private hire drivers need your help now. For countless years we have offered our valuable services 24/7, risking our lives in the pandemic, getting people home safe from nights out. Right now, our livelihoods are at risk because of new English language rules created by TfL.

On the 1st October 2021, TFL introduced a new way to assess a private hire driver’s ability to meet the English Language requirement. PHV drivers are now required to pass two separate assessments;  a Safety, Equality and Regulatory (SERU) assessment and a new speaking and listening assessment. The new assessments will be computer-based exams. We have already all passed an English language requirement and hold millions of conversations with passengers every year. 

Not only are they completely disregarding the livelihood of these drivers, but they have also slapped a fee of £36 to complete these assessments. Why not offer provisional English classes to help and support drivers so we can work together to improve standards rather than focus on repercussions and sanctions? Is that not a more positive approach?

Department for Transport statistics show total licenced taxis and private hire vehicles decreasing by 15.9% since 2020. This number will continue to decrease as livelihoods are threatened if drivers fail to pass these assessments. 

What happens to those that fail the assessments and end up losing their jobs? Please share this, until this message reaches Mayor Sadiq Khan, who can make a change. We now need your help, help us in this fight to protect our livelihoods.