The TfL Safeguarding, Equality, Regulatory and Roads Assessment (SERU) tests whether you understand your legal duties as a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) driver in London, not just your driving skill. Licensing questions form a solid chunk of the topic bank, so know the structure cold.
As a licensed London PHV driver you are often alone with vulnerable passengers - children, people who are drunk, disabled, elderly, or in distress. TfL and the Mayor's Suitability Policy expect you to actively protect passenger welfare, not just drive from A to B. Safeguarding failures (ignoring signs of abuse, exploitation, or a passenger being unsafe) can lead to licence revocation.
Look out for signs of child sexual exploitation (CSE), being under the influence, confusion (possible dementia), visible injury, distress, or a passenger who seems controlled or frightened by another person in the vehicle. If you suspect a child is being exploited or trafficked, do not just complete the job as normal.
You can refuse a fare if you reasonably believe a passenger poses a risk to you, themselves, or your vehicle - but refusal must be reasonable and non-discriminatory. Never leave a heavily intoxicated or vulnerable passenger in an unsafe location (e.g. putting them out in an unfamiliar or dangerous area) - get them home safely or seek help.
When a passenger leaves property in your vehicle, you must hand it in as soon as reasonably practicable - normally to the nearest police station, or return it directly to the owner if you can identify them quickly. Keep a simple log: date, item description, and where/when handed in - this protects you if there's a dispute. Never keep, sell, or dispose of lost property yourself, even after a long wait.
The SERU (Safety, Equality, Regulatory and Underground) assessment tests whether you understand your legal duties to disabled passengers. This is one of the most heavily examined areas because refusing a disabled passenger or an assistance dog is a criminal offence, not just bad customer service.
Under the Equality Act 2010, licensed private hire drivers must carry passengers with assistance dogs and must not charge them extra for doing so. The dog must travel with the passenger, either on their lap or on the floor of the vehicle - never in the boot unless the passenger specifically agrees to that arrangement.
Assistance dogs are not just guide dogs for blind people. They include hearing dogs for deaf people, dogs trained to alert to seizures or diabetic episodes, and dogs trained to support people with physical disabilities or autism. You cannot demand to see an identification card or certificate before accepting the booking - refusal is unlawful even if the dog has no visible harness or ID.
A driver can apply to TfL for a medical exemption certificate if they have a genuine medical condition, such as a severe allergy or asthma, that means they cannot carry dogs. This exemption must be displayed in the vehicle at all times and shown to the passenger. Without a valid, displayed exemption certificate, refusing an assistance dog is an offence and can lead to prosecution, a fine, and loss of licence.
Drivers must not refuse a passenger or charge extra because they are in a wheelchair, use a mobility scooter that folds to fit the vehicle, or need help with luggage related to their disability. Reasonable assistance should be offered - for example helping someone into the vehicle or securing a folded wheelchair - unless doing so would cause injury to the driver.
Treat every disabled passenger and every assistance dog as a booking you must accept. The only lawful way out is a displayed TfL medical exemption certificate - nothing else.
The SERU (Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding) assessment tests whether you drive to a standard that protects passengers, pedestrians and other road users across London. Examiners are checking attitude as much as knowledge - courteous, defensive driving is the theme running through every answer.
In London, only a licensed taxi (the traditional black cab) may ply for hire. A private hire vehicle (PHV) - which covers minicabs and app-based cars like Uber - must NEVER ply for hire. This is the single most-tested idea in this topic, so get it locked in early.
It means a vehicle is out on the street, available and inviting a member of the public to get in and go, without any booking having been made first. It includes cruising for trade, stopping when someone waves you down, or parking up somewhere hoping to be approached. If a PHV driver does any of this, they are committing an offence under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998.
Taxi ranks (the marked bays outside stations, hotels, and on the street) are reserved exclusively for licensed London taxis. A PHV must not wait at, queue on, or use a rank to pick up passengers, even briefly, even if the rank looks empty. Only taxis carry the roof light ('TAXI' sign) and are legally allowed to be hailed or ranked - a PHV must never give the impression it is a taxi.
A passenger must book through a licensed PH operator BEFORE the journey starts. The operator records the booking (driver, vehicle, and journey details) and only then is the driver allowed to go and collect the passenger. This applies just as much to app bookings (Uber, Bolt, etc.) as it does to phoning a minicab office - the app itself is acting as the licensed operator, and the booking confirmation is what makes the pickup lawful.
The fare basis (fixed price or metered/calculated fare) should be set out through the booking - not negotiated on the kerb. A booking confirmation, paper or electronic, should be available showing the details of the booking.
As a licensed PHV driver you are the ‘responsible person’ for your passenger's safety from pick-up to drop-off. TfL and the police expect you to know how to prevent incidents and how to react calmly and correctly when one happens.