PART of the Knowledge Test for Worcester taxi drivers is so easy a child can pass it, a city councillor has claimed.

Questions in the multiple-choice section of the examination are to be toughened up during a major overhaul of the city's taxi industry.

Coun David Clark, chairman of the city's licensing committee, said his 12-year-old granddaughter passed it with 84 per cent.

"It's too simplistic for words. It needs beefing up and the pass rate needs to be higher than 80 per cent," said the former Mayor of Worcester.

"It's too much of an idiot's test."

One of the 30 possible questions asks when a passenger should wear a seatbelt: all the time, never or "when you are driving fast".

Two other sections in the compulsory exam, on the location of Worcester landmarks and streets, might also be adapted when new rules are imposed in the New Year.

"One of the problems with the Knowledge is that if they don't have sufficient understanding, they go with all good intentions from point A to B but if they don't know the quickest route you move into the possibility of over-charging," added Coun Clark.

The move comes to address fears that checks to protect the public from potential disreputable drivers were not tough enough.

Other changes under consideration include taxi drivers being forced to sit an English proficiency test and only being allowed to start work if they have held a British driving licence for at least three years.

They could then be subjected to random drug and alcohol tests once they become taxi drivers and businesses might have to sign up to a code of conduct.