Preparing for your test

The National Transport Authority aims to provide useful advice and guidance to anyone wishing to sit a test under the Skills Development Programme.

 

Industry Knowledge Test

 

The primary research resource for the Industry Knowledge Test is The official manual for operating in the SPSV industry. Please ensure you are sufficiently prepared by studying the second edition of the manual. This has a red cover and is available to order by phoning 0761 064000.

 

The manual pack contains all of the material you need to study for the Industry Knowledge module of the test, which covers the following topics:

·         Introduction to SPSV industry

·         SPSV Regulations

·         Vehicle knowledge

·         Map reading

·         Fares and charges

·         Customer service, including disability awareness and equality and diversity

·         Business

·         Health and safety

 

 

Area Knowledge Test

 

 

The first thing you need to do is learn how to read a map. Whatever the area, even if you have lived there for your whole life, you will have to get to know it as a professional driver knows it.

 

There are also technologies that can help you navigate your way around, but these should be used as additional aids only. The internet, radio reports and satellite navigation systems all have their advantages and disadvantages.

 

Here is a summary of the key information you need to know for the test:

Urban centres

·         One-way systems

·         Street names

·         Housing estates

·         Districts

·         Adjoining streets

·         Routes to other towns and villages

 

National roads and motorways

·         Numbers of motorways and national roads

 

Town and villages

·         Locations of towns and villages

·         Directions to larger urban areas in counties bordering your area

 

Places of interest

·         Hospitals and medical centres

·         Airports (in or near your area)

·         Local ferries and boat services

·         Transport terminals

·         Hotels and holiday centres

·         Stadiums and prominent sports grounds

·         Sports clubs (golf clubs, tennis clubs, yacht clubs)

·         Sporting and leisure (swimming pools, bowling alleys, cinemas, theatres, libraries)

·         Major landmarks and tourist attractions

·         Shopping centres and retail parks

·         Public buildings and amenities

·         Industrial estates and business parks

·         Well-known pubs, restaurants and night-clubs

·         Schools, universities and other educational institutions

·         Garda stations

 

Building up your knowledge

 

Here are some tips for building up your knowledge of the area for which you wish to become licensed:

 

·         Examine street and road maps to get an overall view of the main roads and districts in the county. OSI maps are the most useful here, although they should be used in conjunction with other resources such as Google maps and AA route planner, rather than as an exclusive research aid.

·         Focus on one district at a time and use a map to identify the location of all the major roads and places of interest listed above.

·         Do some legwork. Go out and physically explore each district, armed with a map. You may do this in your car, or on foot or by bicycle if you want to explore the district more thoroughly.

 

Resources and study aids

 

Please see below a list of potential resources to aid you in your preparation

 

Resources	Internet resources
·         OSI maps ·         AA Ireland maps	Google Maps Google Street View OSI maps online AA Ireland route planner Discover Ireland Trip Advisor Citizens Information Irish Rail Garda.ie An Post

 

Important Notice: Fees unless otherwise stated are non-refundable. For further information on this or other customer service issues please contact http://taxiregulation.nationaltransport.ie/ or phone 0761 064000.