That is only true if you want to drive a black cab in central London. My northern taxis are just as OP described.

Up here in Newcastle I'm yet to meet an Uber driver who knows their way around, and it's a tiny city. My favourite was the guy who had no idea how to get to the airport despite it being literally 15 minute drive from the city centre. One of the roads was closed(and Google maps of course had no idea about it, it's completely useless), so the driver started asking me for directions to get to the airport - and my only reaction was "dude, seriously? You drive a taxi for a living and have no idea how to get to the only airport for a mid-size city??". Literally every Uber I've taken so far was both useless at navigating and borderline criminal with their driving ability(driving too fast, too aggressively, not paying enough attention).

Didn't know that. Thanks.