London to Put Uber Drivers Through English-Proficiency Test
- City escalates defense of black cabs after first plan rejected
- Transport agency: Communication ‘crucial to a driver’s role’
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Ratcheting up a battle with Uber Technologies Inc., London’s government transportation agency is requiring drivers to meet an English-language requirement in order to hold a private-hire taxi license.
The new rules, which apply to UberX and the company’s black car service, come after Uber successfully sued the city to block the introduction of English requirements that would apply only to drivers from non-English speaking countries. The proposal was considered discriminatory. Rather than backing away from the language-proficiency plan, the city is now requiring all drivers to prove their English skills by March 31, 2017.