Taxi drivers must 'pass route tests, have good English' and told to adopt dress code

The rules on clothing, footwear and personal hygiene has been branded 'ridiculous' by taxi chiefs.

They will also be required to undertake training on issues around child sexual exploitation and disability as part of the new Sandwell Council rules.

There will also be ban on tinted windows and the council says it will no longer be accepting driving experience in other countries.

Prospective cabbies must have held a full UK licence for two years and will have to pay for the suitability test.

Existing drivers with serious criminal offences are to have their licences reviewed by the council's licensing committee.

Shaz Saleem, of the West Midlands Taxi Drivers Association, said: "Some of the ideas in these new policies are ridiculous.

"Having a dress code is ridiculous. That has nothing to do with customers' safety. That is not going to make any difference."

Mr Saleem welcomed improvements to the knowledge test, but said drivers should not have to pay extra as it should be part of the licence.

Councillor Preet Gill, cabinet member for public health and protection, said: "The public's safety is at the top of our priorities.

"Something which I think is really important is that they will now have to go through CSE training.

"We have started rolling it out gradually but it will now be something they all have to do."

The current verbal knowledge test requires the applicant for a drivers licence to answer 10 questions based on the law and conditions attached to the licence.

Any applicants must answer eight questions correctly in order to pass the test, and must do so within three attempts.

But this current knowledge test does not contain any arithmetic, Highway Code, or location questions and is described in the report as 'weak.'

The tinted windows rule does not apply to limos or those vehicles already fitted with them prior to the new rules.