Toronto approves mandatory training provider for rideshare drivers

The City of Toronto has approved a training provider as part of their mandatory driver training required to receive a vehicle-for-hire licence.

AMB Driving School will provide in-class, virtual class and in-car components for their program which is scheduled to begin in May 2022.

Drivers for any vehicles-for-hire companies such as Lyft and Uber are required to complete the training in order to get a licence from the city. Applications for new licenses will not be accepted without completion of this driving course as of May.

Toronto councillors had paused the issuing of new rideshare licences on Nov. 9 as the city worked to roll out its driver training accreditation program.

The City has been looking for a training provider since new licensing requirements were adopted in July 2019. The review of driver requirements was prompted after the death of an Uber passenger.

In 2018, 28-year-old Uber passenger Nicholas Cameron died following a crash on the Gardiner Expressway. The Uber driver, 23-year-old Bishar Mussa, pleaded guilty to careless driving the next year. 

A call for applications was put out in February 2020, but was paused a month later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Another call was put out in 2021.

AMB Driving School was approved from a list of 12 applicants that had been reviewed by an expert panel of representatives from City divisions.

The training will focus on improving driver awareness of the Vision Zero program, aimed at reducing traffic fatalities, driving in an urban setting, anti-racism and discrimination, and legal requirements.

Those who wish to complete the driver training program must contact AMB Driving School directly for more information.