F: The law on taxis is very interesting and I know in London it's different from other places and rules are quite strict, aren't they?
M: Any London cab driver does a thing called the Knowledge, which is an examination really, It's called the Knowledge and it's a basic test of 468 runs -- what they call runs — from a blue book.
F: And the idea is that anybody can get into a taxi, anywhere in London and give the driver a destination and he's got to know the way there.
M: That's the basis of the Knowledge, finding anywhere from point A to B in that six-mile radius in London.
F: Is it difficult to learn the Knowledge?
M: Average ... it took me nineteen months. Now it's taking guys three years because they want to become a taxi driver. I mean, you've got to have a medical, you’re checked out by the police, you do the Knowledge, but after you've done the basic Knowledge there're still more exams to do. It can take anywhere now from two to three years. And then you do a driving test at the end.
F: I get the impression they're very strict about taxis. Quite apart from the Knowledge, there's the license. Do you have to have a license every year?
M: The license is renewed every three years, but for your cab, whether you rent it or you own it, has to have a yearly overhaul which is a very strict passing test and there are some real stringent tests it's got to pass.
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