London Insists on English Requirement For Private Hire Drivers (reuters.com)

An anonymous reader shares a Reuters report: London's transport bosses said on Monday that all drivers of private hire vehicles must speak, listen to, read and write English to a set level, intensifying a battle with taxi app Uber which says the expected standard is too high. Earlier this year, the capital's transport authority said it would introduce the measure as part of a series of stricter rules on apps such as Uber and private hire firms like Addison Lee whilst supporting the city's iconic black cabs. The move prompted San Francisco-based Uber, which allows users to book journeys on their smartphone, to take legal action arguing that the written component was too demanding. But on Monday, regulator Transport for London (TfL) said drivers will have to take either an English proficiency test or provide proof, such as a British school qualification, that they can meet the required level.

Comments

Fuck that!

[stealth_finger]

We don't need to communicate with our customers, their app already told us where they want to go AND the way, so pay up and shut up.

Uber spokesperson

The want to act like taxis ...

[BarbaraHudson]

They want to act like taxis, let them meet the same standards. Speaking the majority language should be mandatory. How else are you going to communicate in a timely manner with police and emergency services if needed? Or with the passenger when they're trying to tell you to stop because they're about to throw up? Or when the map is wrong? Or that they've just got a phone call or text and need to change their destination or pick up something/someone on the way?

Same thing as in Quebec - if you can't speak French, you aren't allowed to work in any job that involves direct communication with the public. Not even as a receptionist or Walmart greeter. (not really an issue for most since in the large cities almost everyone speaks both of Canada's official languages, and the English speakers who can't speak French even though they've been living there their entire lives are willfully ignorant rednecks who will be dead in a few years as old age takes them away).