CABBIES will be swatting up this weekend as they prepare to sit the first-ever taxi knowledge test in North Lincolnshire.

Half a dozen candidates will be the first-ever to sit the local knowledge test set by North Lincolnshire Council.

Local licensing manager Nick Bramhill confirmed the first exam was due to take place this Monday between 3pm and 5pm at the Education Development Centre in Enderby Road, Scunthorpe.

Mr Bramhill said: "If an applicant passes one part of the test but fails another then they would not normally be required to re-take the part of the test he or she had passed.

"The knowledge test will be conducted in small groups under exam conditions – but if necessary, provision can be made for applicants to sit it alone.

"Should any person be found to be cheating then they will be required to re-take the whole of the test."

The tests have been welcomed by local cabbies including Kuljinder Juj, chairman of the 100-strong Scunthorpe Taxi Association.

He said: "We welcome the idea of a local knowledge test to help secure jobs in the town.

"But we would like to see more pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants included in the test – they are more iconic names."

Mr Bramhill said the test would comprise of three parts which were local routes, legislation and road craft – the first test of its kind since taxi licensing began in Scunthorpe in 1936.

The legislation part will consist of 10 questions and all of them have to be answered correctly for a pass mark.

Applicants will also have to answer 20 questions on road craft, including traffic signs.

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