Another step in the process of your applications the taxi medical, it is advisable to do this early on because if for some reason you fail you will not be allowed to drive so don’t go buying a brand new jag just yet!
The price of this group 2 medical varies wildly I have heard figures from £28 to over £200 so if you can, shop around. You don’t always have to go to your own doctor but some councils will insist you see a specific GP. If you do pay £200; i would full expect the girl in the pic to be doing your examination. Book early as you can wait 2-3 weeks+ sometimes. The appointment should take around 30 mins, including time spent reading crappy knitting magazines from the 90s in the waiting room.
Basically how it works is like this; you get a form from your council (Click here and read the post to see your councils website and contact info) You need to then find a doctor who can do a taxi drivers medical. Take the form to him/her when you attend your appointment. If all goes well (or not) you hand over your cash, he slips it in his back pocket and takes his wife for a slap up meal that evening. You should then have a form authorising you as fit to drive; keep hold of this as you will have show it to the council in order to get your licence.
The medical test will start by you peeing into a glass so don’t empty the tank before your appointment – This is a test for diabetes. You will then have your sight and your hearing tested. Next your blood pressure and heart beat will be checked. You will be asked all sorts of questions relating to the tests, have you ever had this and that etc. If you want to see a medical form and read more details of whats involved click here (pdf file).
If you don’t pass your medical you will need to discuss your options with your GP, it may be something that can be resolved or it may not. I can only wish you luck.
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The taxi drivers medical is the same as the HGV medical, with the HGV you have freedom to pick your doctor (i drive a truck). My brother has just gone on the taxis and the council made him go to a doc who charged £180, i smell a scam! Anyone for a backhander?
ReplyDeletecan some one please help me out diabetes tyoe 1 or type 2 i assume thats a fail to drive a taxi thank you
ReplyDeleteSo a mate faked the eye-test of his taxi medical (crap vision in one eye), he really shouldn't be driving, let alone taxiing. shuld i have a word with him or with the council?
ReplyDeleteYou could poke his other eye out? Out of interest, how do you fake an eye test?? 0_o
ReplyDeletewas allowed to cover one eye with hand whilst the other was tested instead of wearing the blanking screen, just peeked thru fingers with good eye and job done
ReplyDeleteGuess its a matter for your concious then mate, can you live with the thought of knowing his sight may causes loss of life? Can you live with it actually happening? Id speak to him about it first. I know i wouldnt like living with that thought. All the best.
ReplyDelete"can some one please help me out diabetes tyoe 1 or type 2 i assume thats a fail to drive a taxi thank you"
ReplyDeleteCheck with the councils licencing department, i think it depends how you control it(insulin or diet/pills) ...but it varys from council to council. You can drive an LGV with type 2 as long as its diet/pill controlled. ...So its worth investigating via official channels.
You can still blag an HGV medical with crap eyesight in one eye - see the form "Is the sight in the poorest eye at least 6/60?" Cheapest HGV medical in chesterfield after a lot of phoning round was £110.
ReplyDeleteI have had epilepsy in the past but have not had a fit in 14 years. i still take tablets but it is under control. I am currently a driving instructor which I am allowed to do, but would really like to become a cabby
ReplyDeletei failed on purpose, im mad and like doing things like that.
ReplyDeleteI am considering becoming a taxi driver when I reach 21, obviously I understand that I have about 5 years before I can get a taxi license (16 currentlY) although one issue that I have encountered with many careers I wish to persue, is that my colour blindiness is restricting me. Do you know if Red and Green colour deficiency would stop me becoming a taxi driver? I can clearly see when traffic lights change and things like that, it is only an issue when I am mixing very specific colours together and they come out slightly less vivid. Thanks.
ReplyDeletei would be surprised if any taxi firm takes you on, basicly becauseyou're so young, they wouldnt be able to insure you on their policy, even if you could get private taxi insurance it would be over 2k. but good luck if you do
Deletewas a tuff medical and took half hour,
ReplyDeletei have only one eye i lost my eye 29 years ago i have better than good eyesight in my good eye i have just been turned down to become a cabbie is there any point appealing this,
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know someone one eye that got to become a cabbie
Hi mate, if you can pass the visual tests in the medical (reading from a standard sight test)and meet the DVLA driving test standards i dont see any reason why it shoud hold you back. I think you will be subject to more scrutiny than most by the council tho. I would call your local licensing department and discuss it with them. these things vary anyway depending on geography.my sister has partial blindness in one eye and she is fine to drive, on the other hand i have a fried who was turned down for a prison guard job due to blindness in one eye. please check the DVLA for some general advice: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/MedicalRulesForDrivers/MedicalA-Z/DG_185877
ReplyDeletebest of luck! post back with how you get on :)
what about cannabis use do they test for traces of drug use
ReplyDeleteSo Taxi drivers are subject to stricter standards than drivers of private vehicles with similar (legal) seating capacities. A taxi driver carrying just one or two passengers has to meet stricter medical standards than a driver of a private minivan carrying seven passengers. Seriously, if you are not fit enough to be permitted to drive a taxi, sound you serve as a designated driver?
ReplyDelete