London taxis make the grade - BRITISH CAR ENTHUSIASTS

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London taxis make the grade

By MartinW at 2007-12-13 20:45

London taxis make the grade

21st November 2005

Black cabs have been praised by a top driving expert for their design and safety.

The comments were made to London cabbie Joe Freide by a police examiner after he passed the Advanced Driver Test in his LTI Vehicles taxi

And he went so far as to note on the examination report that "the LTI vehicle was very comfortable and the communications system is excellent".

"It’s not very often that someone takes this test in such a vehicle but the examiner was very pleased – and I got a top grade!" said Joe, aged 60, who has been a cab driver in London for 20 years.

"You have to drive for an hour-and-a-half – a touch under the speed limits – and you are tested on your road handling, full knowledge of the Highway Code and have to give a 45-minute commentary on everything you are doing.

"It is based on the police driving manual and is a difficult driving test. The examiner said more taxi drivers should take it."

Joe is training to become a driving instructor so took the Advanced Driver Test as part of that.

The latest cabs from Coventry-based LTI Vehicles all come with a driver-passenger two-way intercom that allows them to converse clearly despite the reinforced bulkhead and driver screen between the two sections of the vehicle, installed as an additional safety measure for drivers.

"The examiner was very complimentary about the cab generally," added Joe who, despite driving for a living for more than 20 years, admits he still loves getting behind the wheel.

"His comments came out of the blue so the vehicle has obviously made an impression on him."

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