The amount of local geography required to operate a New York City yellow cab has been significantly reduced as organizers claim they are modernizing the test and critics claim they are making it too easy for prospective drivers . Cabbies have traditionally faced a rigorous set of geography questions on the 80-question test they must pass to get a license , but now only ten geography questions remain that have to do with navigating the city with a map . The Taxi and Limousine Commission says GPS technology means divers do n't need to learn so much information about getting from A to B and the revised exam can focus more on safety issues . The amount of local geography required to operate a New York City yellow cab has been significantly reduced as organizers claim that GPS technology means they simply do n't need it . Spokesman Allan Fromberg told The New York Times that the revised test is 'catching up to the times . ' However the changes come just as the commission is facing a shortage of drivers as many prospective candidates apply instead to driver for alternative services such as Lyft and Uber that do n't bother to test local geography . The change to the test was introduced several weeks ago and there has since been a 20 percent increase in the pass rate . The companies who operate fleets of yellow cabs are happy to have more drivers to rota onto shifts , but users are unhappy that they might have a driver who does n't know their way around the city . Lifelong New York Carolyn Baker told the Times that she has been taking cabs for more 50 years . 'If I got into a cab and the driver did n't know where Penn Station was , that 'd be ridiculous , ' said . Yellow cab services are experiencing a shortage in the number of drivers as prospective candidates flock to alternative services such as Lyft and Uber . She also voiced concerns about being driven by someone who was too busy looking at their GPS to focus on the road . ' I do n't want the driver using GPS while they are driving and put my life at risk , ' she said . Using a GPS device when a cab is not standing or parked is currently prohibited . Half of the 80-question test , 30 questions on English-language proficiency and the 10 on map reading , remain unchanged . Of the remaining 40 , up to 25 questions previously covered geography , but now they all cover rules and regulations . 'The chance that a licensed cabdriver is not going to know where major tourist attractions are is slim to none , ' said Fromberg .
The NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission using GPS technology means divers do n't need to learn so much info about getting from A to B . The number of people applying to pass the test has significantly increased over the past few months due to the success of alternatives such as Lyft . The situation changed several years ago and there has since been a 20 percent drop in the pass rate .