WELL done Rossendale Council for joining a pioneering scheme to put would-be taxi and private hire drivers through a new government driving examination.

Let's see whether our other councils have the courage to follow.

Then perhaps we'll be spared the hair-raising U-turns in the centre of town, the cutting up at traffic lights, the honking of horns at 2am (who am I kidding) and the sudden screeching to a halt in the middle of the road to dump passengers.

Test questions to weed out undesirables could include:

This is a give way sign. What do you think it might mean?

This is a stop sign. What would you do if you saw one?

This is a mini roundabout. Would you consider going round it instead of over it?

Anything that makes our roads safer should be snatched at. But the downside is the test is for new cabbies only.

The mavericks who already think they own the road can carry on wreaking havoc.

Doubtless some of our cabbies are perfect drivers, but it's a case of the few having to suffer for the good of the majority.