Taxi SERU: stopping, ranks and licensing responsibilities

The taxi SERU assessment tests six areas of the Taxi Driver Handbook, including stopping and waiting, and licensing requirements. This note covers Sections 9 to 12 of the handbook: stopping and waiting, taxi ranks and shelters, licensing duties, and renting or owning a taxi. All of these sections are marked "you may be tested on this" (only small parts, such as online customer accounts, are marked as not tested), so learn the numbers and rules carefully. The assessment is open book, but you still need to know where to find things quickly.

Stopping and waiting: the general rules

As a taxi driver you can stop to pick up or drop off passengers in many places where other vehicles cannot, but there are firm limits:

• Never stop where you would block the road, stop other vehicles moving, or be a danger to other road users.
• Never stop on zig-zag lines, for example by pedestrian crossings or outside schools.
• Always check the signage about stopping and waiting, and follow what it says.
• Always get close to the kerb. Never drop off a passenger in the middle of the road, even if you are stopped in traffic.
• Do not leave your engine running while you wait. It causes air pollution and can be illegal on a public road.

There is no fixed time limit for picking up or setting down. You may stop only long enough for passengers to get into or out of the taxi. This includes the time to help passengers who need assistance, such as wheelchair users, including the time needed to position and secure the wheelchair safely.

Place	Pick up or set down	Wait there
Single or double red lines	Yes	No
Single or double yellow lines	Yes	No
Places where loading is not allowed (kerb markings)	Yes	No
Most parking bays	Yes	Yes, if you obey the time limits on the sign
Most bus lanes	Yes, but avoid it if it delays or obstructs buses; enter and leave in the most direct, safe way	Not applicable
Many London bus stops	Yes	No
Bus stops on red routes marked with wide red lines	Never stop at all	Never

Key fact: You may pick up or set down on red lines and yellow lines, but you must not wait for a passenger there, even if you arrive early or the passenger is late.

If a passenger needs help to or from a building, there is no general permission to leave your taxi. Some councils accept that this is part of your job, but you risk a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). If you do help, spend only a short time away from the taxi and note the passenger's details or booking, in case you need to challenge the PCN. If you cannot wait outside a place, explain politely and suggest a nearby side street where waiting is allowed.