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SERU safer driving: questions and answers

38 practice questions for the TfL SERU assessment, with answers and explanations at the end.

Free from taxiknowledgetest.co.uk. Not an official council or TfL document: check the current official guidance.

Questions

Speed, alcohol and tiredness

  1. As your speed goes up, the time you have to avoid a collision .

    • A. goes up
    • B. goes down
    • C. stays the same
    • D. depends on the passenger

  2. It suddenly starts to rain heavily. You are under the speed limit. What should you do?

    • A. Keep the same speed, as it is legal
    • B. Slow down
    • C. Put on your hazard lights and carry on
    • D. Move closer to the vehicle in front

  3. What does careless or dangerous driving count as?

    • A. A serious offence with heavy penalties
    • B. A matter only for your operator to deal with
    • C. An offence only if somebody gets injured
    • D. A minor matter that brings a warning only

  4. You have started a new prescription medicine. Who should you check with before you drive?

    • A. Your doctor
    • B. Your operator
    • C. Your insurance company
    • D. The TfL licensing office

  5. Where do the police test drivers for drink and drugs?

    • A. Only at a police station
    • B. At the roadside
    • C. Only at an MOT centre
    • D. Only at the TfL licensing office

  6. In England and Wales, the breath alcohol limit for drivers is microgrammes per 100 millilitres.

    • A. 22
    • B. 50
    • C. 80
    • D. 35

  7. You break the rules of the road. What could happen to you?

    • A. A warning from your operator, but nothing more than that
    • B. A fine, but never any penalty points on your licence
    • C. A short course, but never a ban from driving
    • D. A fine, points, a ban, or the loss of your PHV licence

  8. Tiredness can have a similar effect on a driver as .

    • A. listening to music
    • B. eating a large meal
    • C. using a sat nav
    • D. drinking alcohol

  9. The Highway Code says to take a break of at least minutes after every two hours of driving.

    • A. 5
    • B. 10
    • C. 30
    • D. 15

  10. Why should you take extra care when you drive at night?

    • A. Passengers are more likely to make a complaint about you
    • B. Speed limits are lower on most London roads after dark
    • C. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists may be harder to see
    • D. Your operator gives you more bookings during those hours

Phones and a clear view

  1. You must not hold and use your phone while driving, even when you are stopped at .

    • A. traffic lights
    • B. a safe parking place
    • C. a marked parking bay
    • D. your own driveway

  2. What is the penalty for using a hand-held phone while driving?

    • A. 6 points and a £200 fine
    • B. 3 points and a £100 fine
    • C. 3 points and a £200 fine
    • D. 6 points and a £100 fine

  3. Your phone is in flight mode. You hold it to read a map while you are stopped in a queue. Is this legal?

    • A. No, the ban still applies
    • B. Yes, because it is offline
    • C. Yes, because you are stopped
    • D. Yes, if the map is for a booking

  4. When can you call on a hand-held phone while driving?

    • A. To tell your operator that you are going to be late
    • B. To check your next booking when traffic is very slow
    • C. To call 999 in an emergency when stopping is unsafe
    • D. To answer a passenger's call about a pick-up point

  5. To take a call on a hand-held phone, stop safely, park your vehicle and turn off the .

    • A. radio
    • B. indicators
    • C. engine
    • D. headlights

  6. You use a hands-free phone while driving, and the police think you are distracted. What can happen?

    • A. Nothing, as hands-free use is always allowed
    • B. They can stop you and you can be prosecuted
    • C. Your operator gets a warning, but you do not
    • D. They can only give you advice about your phone

  7. The part of the windscreen that your wipers cover is known as the .

    • A. clear zone
    • B. wiper line
    • C. swept area
    • D. safe screen

  8. Where should you put a phone holder or sat nav in your vehicle?

    • A. In the middle of the windscreen, where it is easy to read
    • B. Anywhere at all, as long as the holder stays steady
    • C. Where it does not reduce how much you can see
    • D. On your lap, so that you can reach it more quickly

  9. The Highway Code says windscreens and windows must be kept clean and free from to vision.

    • A. reflections
    • B. sunlight
    • C. rain
    • D. obstructions

Cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists

  1. The Highway Code says people driving the vehicles that can cause most harm have the responsibility to reduce danger.

    • A. same
    • B. greatest
    • C. smallest
    • D. shared

  2. Which road users are most likely to be hurt in a collision?

    • A. Car drivers and the passengers who are travelling with them
    • B. Van and lorry drivers who are on long journeys
    • C. Pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists
    • D. Bus and coach drivers who are on busy city routes

  3. You are turning into a side road. A pedestrian is waiting to cross it. What should you do?

    • A. Sound your horn and then turn
    • B. Turn first, as you have priority
    • C. Flash your lights to wave them back
    • D. Give way to the pedestrian

  4. When you overtake a cyclist at up to 30 mph, leave at least .

    • A. 0.5 metres
    • B. 1 metre
    • C. 3 metres
    • D. 1.5 metres

  5. You want to turn left. A cyclist is going straight ahead on your left. What should you do?

    • A. Wait, and do not turn across their path
    • B. Indicate early, then turn before they reach you
    • C. Sound your horn, then turn when they slow down
    • D. Turn slowly, as the cyclist should stop for you

  6. The Highway Code says to open your car door with the hand on the side to the door.

    • A. same
    • B. opposite
    • C. nearest
    • D. outer

  7. Your passenger is getting out on the road side. What should you ask them to do first?

    • A. Open the door quickly so traffic can see it
    • B. Wait until you have put your hazard lights on
    • C. Check for cyclists before opening the door
    • D. Open the door slowly and step out at once

  8. At an advanced stop line, if the light is red and you have not crossed the line, you must stop at the white line.

    • A. second
    • B. first
    • C. third
    • D. last

  9. A cyclist is riding in the middle of the lane ahead of you. What should you do?

    • A. Wait patiently until it is safe to pass
    • B. Sound your horn so that the cyclist moves over
    • C. Pass quickly, close to the side of the cyclist
    • D. Flash your lights to ask the cyclist to move left

  10. PHV drivers are almost as likely as private car drivers to be in a collision that kills or seriously injures a cyclist.

    • A. twice
    • B. half
    • C. three times
    • D. ten times

Seat belts and vehicle checks

  1. The driver must make sure all children under wear a seat belt or sit in an approved child seat.

    • A. 12
    • B. 14
    • C. 16
    • D. 18

  2. You collect a two-year-old and you do not have the correct child seat. How can the child travel?

    • A. In the front seat, with an adult seat belt
    • B. In a rear seat, with an adult seat belt
    • C. In a rear seat, without a seat belt
    • D. In the front seat, on an adult's lap

  3. You have no correct child seat for a five-year-old. The child must sit in a rear seat and wear .

    • A. no seat belt
    • B. a lap strap only
    • C. a parent's belt too
    • D. an adult seat belt

  4. An adult passenger has not put on a seat belt. What does the Handbook say you should do?

    • A. Stop the journey and call the police about them
    • B. Say nothing, because it is not your concern at all
    • C. Encourage them to wear it for their own safety
    • D. Add a small extra charge to the fare for the journey

  5. If the tread has worn down to the level of the wear bars, you must the tyre.

    • A. replace
    • B. rotate
    • C. repair
    • D. pump up

  6. A car tyre must have a tread depth of at least mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.

    • A. 1
    • B. 2
    • C. 3
    • D. 1.6

  7. Which of these must your tyres be free from?

    • A. Any sign of use on the tread
    • B. Cuts, lumps, bulges and tears
    • C. Dust from roads and brakes
    • D. Writing on the side wall

  8. Which of these should you check is working in the passenger compartment?

    • A. A phone charger
    • B. The courtesy lights
    • C. A drinks holder
    • D. A TV screen

  9. Your vehicle has CCTV. Where must the CCTV sign be displayed?

    • A. In a prominent position
    • B. In the glove box
    • C. On the vehicle's roof
    • D. In the operator's office

Answers

  1. B. goes down. The faster you drive, the less time you have to react. Injuries also get worse as speed goes up.
  2. B. Slow down. The Handbook says to change how you drive when the weather changes. In heavy rain or thick fog, reduce your speed.
  3. A. A serious offence with heavy penalties. The Handbook says careless or dangerous driving is a serious offence with heavy penalties.
  4. A. Your doctor. The Handbook says to check with your doctor that the medicine is safe for you to drive on. The Highway Code also says you can ask a pharmacist.
  5. B. At the roadside. The Handbook says the police test for drug and alcohol use at the roadside.
  6. D. 35. The limit in England and Wales is 35. The Highway Code says the best choice is not to drink at all when you plan to drive.
  7. D. A fine, points, a ban, or the loss of your PHV licence. You may get a fixed penalty notice or be prosecuted. That can mean a fine, points or a ban, and you could lose your PHV driver's licence.
  8. D. drinking alcohol. The Handbook says tiredness can affect a driver in a similar way to alcohol, and it can cause death or serious injury.
  9. D. 15. Rule 91 advises a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours. The Handbook says to plan regular breaks into your day.
  10. C. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists may be harder to see. The Handbook says these road users may be more difficult to see at night, so pay particular attention.
  11. A. traffic lights. The ban still applies when you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic. It does not apply when you are safely parked.
  12. A. 6 points and a £200 fine. GOV.UK gives 6 penalty points and a £200 fine. A court can also ban you and give a bigger fine.
  13. A. No, the ban still applies. The ban covers all hand-held use, online or offline. It also applies when you are queuing in traffic.
  14. C. To call 999 in an emergency when stopping is unsafe. Calling 999 or 112 in an emergency is allowed when it is unsafe or impractical to stop.
  15. C. engine. The Handbook says to stop safely, park and turn the engine off before you answer or make a call.
  16. B. They can stop you and you can be prosecuted. Hands-free use is allowed only if you stay in full control. The police can stop you if they think you are distracted.
  17. C. swept area. The Handbook calls the area covered by the windscreen wipers the swept area.
  18. C. Where it does not reduce how much you can see. The Handbook says devices must not reduce your view. GOV.UK also says a device must not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.
  19. D. obstructions. Annex 6 of the Highway Code says this. Nothing should stop you seeing the road ahead.
  20. B. greatest. Rule H1 puts the greatest responsibility on those whose vehicles can cause the most harm. This rule came in after the Handbook was written.
  21. C. Pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists. The Highway Code's hierarchy of road users puts these people at the top because they are most at risk.
  22. D. Give way to the pedestrian. Rule H2 says give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road you are turning into or out of.
  23. D. 1.5 metres. Rule 163 says leave at least 1.5 metres at speeds up to 30 mph, and more space at higher speeds.
  24. A. Wait, and do not turn across their path. Rule H3 says do not turn across a cyclist going ahead. Do not make them stop or swerve.
  25. B. opposite. Rule 239 says this because it makes you turn your head and look over your shoulder. It is often called the Dutch reach.
  26. C. Check for cyclists before opening the door. The Handbook says to ask passengers to check that no cyclist is coming before they open a door into the road, and you must do the same.
  27. B. first. Rule 178 says drivers must stop at the first white line. The space beyond it is for cyclists, and you may be fined and get points if you enter it.
  28. A. Wait patiently until it is safe to pass. The Handbook says to wait patiently until you can pass safely. Rule 72 says cyclists should ride in the centre of the lane in some places, so that they can be seen.
  29. A. twice. The Handbook gives this figure, and says this is why PHV drivers must take special care around cyclists.
  30. B. 14. The Handbook and Rule 100 put this duty on the driver for children under 14.
  31. C. In a rear seat, without a seat belt. If the driver does not provide the correct seat, a child under 3 can travel only on a rear seat, with no seat belt.
  32. D. an adult seat belt. A child aged 3 or over with no correct seat must travel on a rear seat and wear an adult seat belt.
  33. C. Encourage them to wear it for their own safety. All adults must wear a seat belt, and the Handbook says drivers should encourage adult passengers to wear one.
  34. A. replace. The Handbook says you must replace a tyre when the tread pattern has worn down to the wear bar indicators.
  35. D. 1.6. Annex 6 of the Highway Code sets 1.6 mm for cars. The tread must reach this all the way around the tyre.
  36. B. Cuts, lumps, bulges and tears. The Handbook says tyres must be free from cuts, lumps, bulges, tears, excessive or uneven wear, and excessive rim damage.
  37. B. The courtesy lights. The Handbook lists passenger courtesy lights among the equipment that must be in good working order.
  38. A. In a prominent position. The Handbook says CCTV signage must be displayed in a prominent position where CCTV is installed.

Sources

  • Private Hire Vehicle Driver's Handbook, version 1.0, Transport for London, published 30 September 2021. Checked 1 November 2026. https://content.tfl.gov.uk/phv-driver-handbook-v1.pdf
  • The Highway Code: Introduction (hierarchy of road users, Rules H1 to H3), GOV.UK, Undated web page; read as it stands today.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/introduction
  • The Highway Code: General rules, techniques and advice (Rule 149), GOV.UK, Undated web page; read as it stands today.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158
  • The Highway Code: Rules for drivers and motorcyclists (Rules 91 to 100), GOV.UK, Undated web page; read as it stands today.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-drivers-and-motorcyclists-89-to-102
  • The Highway Code: Using the road (Rules 163 and 178), GOV.UK, Undated web page; read as it stands today.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/using-the-road-159-to-203
  • The Highway Code: Rules for cyclists (Rule 72), GOV.UK, Undated web page; read as it stands today.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82
  • The Highway Code: Waiting and parking (Rule 239), GOV.UK, Undated web page; read as it stands today.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/waiting-and-parking-238-to-252
  • The Highway Code: Annex 6, vehicle maintenance, safety and security, GOV.UK, Undated web page; read as it stands today.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/annex-6-vehicle-maintenance-safety-and-security
  • Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving, GOV.UK, Undated web page; read as it stands today.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law
  • Child car seats: the rules (when a child can travel without a car seat), GOV.UK, Undated web page; read as it stands today.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat
  • The Highway Code: 8 changes you need to know from 29 January 2022, GOV.UK, News story on the changes that took effect on 29 January 2022.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022
  • Transport Secretary declares zero tolerance for phone use behind the wheel as law changes today, GOV.UK, News story on the change that took effect on 25 March 2022.. Checked 1 November 2026. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-declares-zero-tolerance-for-phone-use-behind-the-wheel-as-law-changes-today