Posted on the 10th October 2025 in PHTM News

RETURNING CABBIE EXEMPT FROM ABERDEEN'S CONTROVERSIAL STREET KNOWLEDGE TEST

A former Aberdeen cabbie, Scott Allan, has been granted an exemption from resitting the city's Street Knowledge Test after a plea to the council.

Mr. Allan, who had been in the trade for three years before leaving during the pandemic, wished to return to the city's fleet. Normally, handing in one's badge requires a returning driver to redo the test to secure permission.

Mr. Allan went before the council's licensing committee on Wednesday, October 8, to argue that since he had previously passed the test in 2016 and had only been out of the trade for a short time, he should be allowed to bypass it. Failing the test would have barred him from re-entering the profession.

When asked about his confidence in knowing the city's routes and expanding suburbs like Bridge of Don and Cove, Mr. Allan stated: “I’m Aberdonian, I’ve been driving here for 35 years. I’m really familiar with everywhere and streets in Aberdeen.” 

He added, “I don’t think I’ll have any issues getting straight back into it, knowing places, streets, routes, not a problem.”

The Street Knowledge Test itself has been "contentious over the years," with opponents claiming "it’s an outdated barrier to entering the trade" and contributing to night-time driver shortages.

Uber has been an outspoken critic of the exam, which was revised in late 2024 to reduce the questions from 80 to 44.

Ultimately, the councillors agreed and allowed Mr. Allan to "bypass the Street Knowledge Test" and return to the trade.


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