Taxi drivers may no longer be tested on their local knowledge of the area under plans being considered by Bracknell Forest Council.

Currently drivers of all cabs and private hire cars have to pass a so-called “knowledge test” before the council will grant them a licence. Hackney Carriage—black cab—drivers also have to pass a verbal test of specific routes to destinations in the borough based on map work.

But now Bracknell Forest Council’s licensing committee is considering getting rid of the test, with some councillors say its no longer needed with widespread use of sat navs.

Yet some Hackney Carriage drivers in Bracknell have spoken out in favour of keeping it.

Asghar Ali, who has been a Hackney Carriage driver in Bracknell for 13 years, said it’s important for drivers to have local knowledge.

He said: “They shouldn’t get rid of the knowledge test because if you don’t have a knowledge of the area, that will be a problem for the resident and a problem for the drivers as well.

“It’s not difficult. If you give it a good two weeks you can pass it, but without the knowledge test it shouldn’t be allowed.”

He also worried that making it easier to get a license would make it harder for drivers to get work – noting that rules are less strict for private hire firms such as Uber. “If they go with the changes everyone will get licenses,” he said. “And there’s not enough work for the present drivers.”

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And another driver, who didn’t want to be named, said: “I think new taxi drivers should have to take the knowledge test – you have to have your brain working.

“Ubers depend more on GPS. But if the signal has a problem they can’t do anything, they can’t help anyone.”

But not every Hackney Carriage driver thinks it’s important to keep the knowledge test. Gokarna Rai, a driver since 2010, said: “It’s not necessary now, because of the sat nav. Even these days we don’t need to look at the direction signboards. We always follow the sat nav.”

The council’s licensing and safety committee was due to discuss the changes on Thursday, June 22. It could vote to scrap the test, keep it, or launch a consultation before making a final decision in October.