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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.
Uber can't hire any decent people. Only desperate people who let's just say aren't from around here. I can't even imagine that 10% of Uber drivers make enough money to profit on. The only way Uber makes a lot of money is screwing drivers, and avoiding regulations and when they can't they just leave.
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
Wanna buy a shirt?
https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
Sorry.
"Prediction: within 10 years, Windows will be a Linux distribution." Me, 7-6-2016
Give me some bad points for this?
The article reads like it's a bad thing but then doesn't have any negative points. Seems more like another clueless millennial ranting than news.
I mean, if you can't speed-read English, how do you deal with non-picture traffic signs?
I wouldn't try to drive in Japan or China, never mind try to work as a driver, until I could *fast*-read all the typical ideograms. At least English is utterly easy in comparison.
OTOH, if the requirement is that the drivers need to write good essays, then yes, I would see that as excessive, sad as that might be.
People conducting business that involves the public and their safety are required to know the national language. Imagine that. ....But I can just imagine the rabid leftie PeeCee do-gooders will be all over this.
Stepping into a car where the driver does not understand you is not going to go well.
Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
Why not allow a discount under non-English-speaking drivers? As long as it's disclosed. Don't outright ban it: let the customer decide.
If you don't want chit-chat, and can get a non-English discount, it's a good deal for a customer.
Table-ized A.I.
The app takes care of destination and cost. And if an especially sketchy Uber driver decides to have his way with a passenger who can't defend herself...well, it's not like he was going to ask for consent anyway.
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
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).
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
The knowledge is obsolete. We have apps for that now.
I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
Ah I see you're also doing that thing where Amercans think every other country in the world has the same fucked up rules as the US.
https://www.youtube.com/result...
Now that you mention it, I wonder if any prospective student has ever accused a university of being racist because of the English competency exam they would have to take just to get in?
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
If I were to move to, say, France, I'd feel obliged to learn French, preferably before I actually moved there, but as soon as possible upon arriving there otherwise.
Same would go for any other country I might find myself living in. It's rude and absurd for someone moving to another country to expect everyone else to learn your language, you should learn their language, especially if you have a job where you interact with the public-at-large all day long.
So if you only work part-time you're not actually whatever profession you're doing?
If only the USA had an official language.
Maybe I missed it, but the article doesn't appear to state whether or not the existing cab drivers also have this requirement. If they do, then this is just a matter of forcing Uber to meet minimum standards.
However, if the regular cabbies *arn't* also required to meet these same minimum language requirements, then it would be reasonable to cry foul over these regulations.
See subject line.
So what about deaf drivers? Certainly not a requirement for the job of taxi service, albeit maybe more convenient. Mute? What if they have one arm, will that suddenly become the arbitrary criteria that no customer gets to decide matters?
I'm fine with criticizing the likes of Uber, but if our best argument for serving customers is discriminating against people that can objectively do the job, maybe we should re-evaluate our position.
This forum Sig is licensed under the LGPL.
Actually, it's a micro-aggression against the poor immigrants
Hasta la vista, Hispanic votes!!!
Nope and nope.
There's a difference. See if you can try to work out what it is.
I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
I mean what a cheek, expecting people who work in the UK to actually speak the language. Political correctness gone mad!
Want to live in America? LEARN the FREAKING LANGUAGE!
All it takes is one complaint. Obviously the people they are dealing with won't complain because they're English. However, the law is clear. Even internal business communications for companies with more than 50 employees must be in French, though they can also be accompanied by a translation. There are 54 companies that have been granted exemptions.
And for businesses that have more than 50 employees, the law is even more strict. They’re required to use French in everything from internal communications to computer software – and to obtain a certificate from the Office québécois de la langue française, the provincial agency that regulates language, attesting to this “generalized” use of French.
Also, see Article 141 subsection 8 of bill 101
(8) une politique d’embauche, de promotion et de mutation appropriée;
or "an appropriate policy of hiring, promotions, and transfers" - appropriate meaning policies to encourage the business to be able to operate completely in French.
If two people are equally qualified, and one doesn't speak french, the one that does gets hired. Hey, don't blame me - I protested against this law for a couple of weeks, and almost got arrested.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
It's important to understand that the UK 'taxi' market already exists in two forms; the black cab which can be hailed or booked, and 'private hire vehicles', which can only be accessed via an office to which a phone call could be made. This bifurcation is probably 50 years old. When the only phone is a landline, this is very restrictive. When phones become mobile, it's less so, but you are still dependent a vehicle being near you. Now Uber offers automated, easy access - and reduces the bifurcation to very little; you spot the uber car on the screen instead of on the road.
Clearly there is no need for private hire drivers to become more proficient in English than was the case before uber happened, so it seems clear this is pure protectionism by politicians seeking to avoid being haranged or even maltreated by taxi drivers when they use them - which of course they do far more than the rest of us.
There are plenty of people in Quebec who only speak French and would put even Trump to shame with the amount of racism and ignorant rhetoric, and political parties that actually support that type of ideology and try to enforce it. In ten years it'll be Nazi Quebec
Ditto for some of the English, and some of every other ethnic group. This is pretty much true everywhere in the world - you can always find a redneck. So what's your point? That taxi drivers in England shouldn't have to know how to speak English because ... ?
You need a lingua franca to enable better communications. Canada has 2 of them - English and French.
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
Uber is regulated under the long existent 'private hire car' regulations, which have never addressed this issue in the past. Its creation now is therefore an attempt to protect a comfortable group in society who makes a nice living out of being taxi drivers, without really earning it.
You might want to start with making it an official language in the US before demanding everyone learn it. As of now, the US has no official language.
Will the uber drivers have to pass that?
Hey, I'm not the one w/ any issues w/ this. But I've met many people, particularly in CA, who'd nod at me and indicate that they don't know English. And you have that trend encouraged by TV channels such as Telemundo
I have no problem with TV channels like Telemundo, just with people who come to America and expect to live here without actually working to fit in.
Seriously, around here you can take your drivers test in a dozen different languages, but realistically being able to read (and speak) the local language is an important f***ing skill. There are plenty of signs that are text-only, and when you have an accident or a cop pulls you over then not being able to communicate is a pretty big deal.
There are moments when I'm grateful that I live in the somewhat overregulated UK rather than a libertarian's fantasy!
The reality is that other companies are trying to match Uber in the UK. The problem of course is that Uber has got the momentum, so others are struggling to catch up; although the network advantage isn't as extreme as that which protects Facebook - 'everyone' is on it so you have to be to be in the game - it is still significant.