Safety, equality and regulatory understanding requirement

SERU requirement

The safety, equality and regulatory understanding (SERU) requirement came into force on 1 October 2021. It applies to both new applicants and those applying to renew their PHV driver licence.

This SERU requirement includes:

a)  Drivers' obligations under the PHV (London) Act 1998 including the associated regulations and relevant obligations including under the Equality Act 2010;

b)  Policies and guidance issued by Transport for London (TfL) or other persons which are relevant to London PHV drivers; 

c)  The particular needs of passengers that arise because a passenger has (or may have) a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010;

d)  Protecting children and adults at risk from harm and abuse;e)  Passenger and driver safety; 

f)  Road and vehicle safety.   

Preparing for your assessment

The SERU assessment is based on information contained in the PHV Driver's Handbook. 

Applicants should read and familiarise themselves with the Handbook before undertaking the assessment. 

We have also created an online assessment guide to help applicants prepare for the SERU assessment.

The online assessment guide covers every part of the Handbook in detail, with a Knowledge Check at the end of each section. The assessment guide has over 36 knowledge check questions and a whole section on "what to expect" which takes you through the whole assessment process with screenshots taken from the assessment centre - so candidates know what to expect on the day.

The SERU assessment is computer-based and it is delivered by TfL staff at TfL offices.  

It will involve multiple choice questions and completing sentences by adding missing words.  

Further information on what to expect on the day is provided to you when an assessment booking has been confirmed. 

Each applicant will be given time to prepare for the assessment and reasonable adjustments will be made where appropriate (see below).

Once a booking has been confirmed, applicants are expected to make every effort to attend.

We reserve the right in the future to require applicants to take the SERU assessment for a second time, in the event of a significant change in the regulatory landscape.