Taxi drivers looking to renew their licences will not need to prove they have “the knowledge” to keep working in Perth and Kinross.
The tough new test for cabbies was introduced by the local council last year.
Under the scheme, all new drivers are quizzed under exam-like conditions on street names, landmarks and short cuts.
Licensing chiefs have agreed to extend the scheme but have stopped short of insisting all current drivers will have to pass the test when their licence comes up for renewal.
As well as budding cabbies, it was agreed any driver who comes before the licensing committee, for any reason, can also be quizzed.
The committee heard that out of six drivers who had to apply for new licenses, after failing to renew their old ones, only three passed first time.
Convener Chris Ahern said: “It shows we have got drivers out there who aren’t particularly au fait with the regulations or the requirements for taxi drivers.
“We don’t wish to deter people from being a driver, but often a visitor’s first impression of Perth is a taxi driver and they have to know their stuff.”
The committee heard it would be too time consuming for staff to extend the quiz to all drivers.
Of the 62 new applications received, 23 passed first time and 17 on the second go. 12Â were invited to take re-sits and eight withdrew or failed.
Perth and Kinross is still an Uber-free zone.
Mr Ahern said: “I proposed that we allow provision for the option of making a license holder take part or all of the taxi driver test, dependent of course on he reasons that they have been put before the committee.
“Should they subsequently fail the test, the driver will have the opportunity to resit. But should they fail the resit, they will be required to be placed back before the committee to determine their suitability to retain their licence.”
The pass mark is 51 and questions are along the lines of: What area of Perth is Canal Street in? Or how do you get from George Street from the train station?
Candidates are also asked basic maths questions to show they know how much change to hand over, and are quizzed on the Highway Code.
