You must remember that:
• PHVs are not allowed to drive in bus lanes
• PHVs are not allowed to park, wait, Drop off or collect passengers on a Taxi Rank
• PHVs are not allowed to use or park on electric taxi Charge points
A PHV is not a taxi. If a road sign shows that access is for a taxi you are not allowed access. Here are two examples:
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Stopping and waiting
Private hire drivers can stop to pick up or drop off passengers in many areas where there are rules in place to limit waiting or stopping. You need to remember that:
• PHV drivers should not stop in any place where they might stop other vehicles moving or be a danger to other road users.
• PHV drivers must not stop on Zig-zag lines (for example, by pedestrian crossings, outside schools)
You should check what Signage is displayed about stopping or waiting and make sure you understand and follow the instructions:
• You can pick up or drop off passengers:
– On single and double red lines
– On single and double yellow lines
– In places where Loading is not allowed (shown by markings on the Kerb)
– In most parking bays
– In most bus lanes, although you should avoid this if possible as it might delay or obstruct buses
But remember you cannot wait for passengers in these areas.
• You can stop in the above locations only long enough for the passengers to get in or out of your vehicle. This includes the time to help passengers who need assistance, for example wheelchair users, including the time needed to make sure the wheelchair is in the right position and safely secured
• You should not stop on taxi ranks, even when picking up or dropping off passengers
• If there are waiting or parking restrictions, you cannot stop for longer than is needed for the passenger to get in or out of the vehicle. (There is no general permission that allows you to leave your vehicle to help a passenger to or from a building. However, some councils understand and accept that this is an important part of your job. If your passenger needs help, you should spend only a short time away from your vehicle, if possible, and make a note of the passenger’s details/booking, just in case you get a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). It will be down to the Council who issued the PCN to decide whether to accept this evidence and cancel the PCN
• If you are not picking up or dropping off a passenger, you may get a PCN if you wait somewhere where there are restrictions. This can happen even if you have arrived early for a booking or the passenger is late, or if a passenger has asked you to stop and wait while they visit a shop or use a cashpoint
• You should not leave your engine Running while you are waiting. If your engine is running while you are parked or waiting you are polluting the environment, and this can be illegal on a public road
• Never drop passengers off in the middle of the road, even if your vehicle is stopped due to traffic. You should always get close to the kerb
Bus lanes and bus stops
You must:
• Enter and leave the bus lane in the most direct and safe way. Pay careful attention to cyclists and motorcyclists who are able to use bus lanes and to pedestrians and bus passengers that may be getting off the bus and crossing the road
• Not stop at ‘bus stop clearways’ marked with a wide yellow line by the kerb. On red routes, you cannot stop at bus stops marked with a wide red line by the kerb. You should try not to stop at other red route bus stops to avoid delaying or obstructing buses
• Remember that only Licensed taxis can use bus lanes – PHVs are not allowed to
You should avoid picking up or dropping off passengers at bus stops as this can delay
buses and may not be allowed at some bus stops.
Taxi ranks
If you park or wait on a taxi rank you may be fined and TfL may also take Licensing action against you. This could include suspending or revoking your PHV driver’s Licence.
Electric taxi charging points
If you park or wait on an electric taxi charging point, or use it to charge a PHV, you may be fined and TfL may also take licensing action against you. This could include suspending or revoking your PHV driver’s licence.
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)
You can get a PCN for parking offences or other moving traffic offences such as driving in a bus lane, banned turns or movements (e.g. an illegal U-turn) or blocking a yellow box Junction.
Congestion Charging
PHVs entering the Congestion Charge zone need to pay the daily charge unless they have an Exemption. You can find information about the times and days when you need to pay the Congestion Charge, and the area it covers on our website
If your PHV is Designated* as wheelchair accessible, you will not have to pay the Congestion Charge if you are entering the zone to carry out a booking from a London licensed PHV Operator. You can check if your vehicle has been designated as wheelchair accessible on the TfL website.
* Designated vehicles are those listed by TfL under section 167 of the Equality Act
Ultra Low Emission Zone
To help improve air quality, an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) operates in London. You can find information about the times and days when you need to pay the ULEZ charge, and the area it covers on our website.
PHVs need to meet the ULEZ Emissions standards or their drivers must pay a daily charge to drive within the zone:
• Petrol PHVs must be Euro 4
• Diesel PHVs must be Euro 6
The emissions Standard of a vehicle can usually be worked out from the date of its first registration as new, which is shown on the vehicle’s registration document known as the V5C.
PHVs registered as wheelchair accessible by TfL are exempt from the ULEZ charge.
Red routes
The only exception is that we do allow PHVs to stop on the red route to wait for passengers to use a cashpoint between the hours of 22:00 and 06:00 only but for no longer than 5 minutes.
Please note that you must never, for any reason, stop within pedestrian clearways, zig-zag line, bus stops with wide red lines, or any place where your vehicle would cause an Obstruction or any danger to other road users.
Some parts of red routes are marked for parking. Parking bays can be identified by a ‘P’ on the signs that accompany them. The signs will tell you when parking is allowed, how long vehicles can be parked and how soon a vehicle can stop again in the same section of road.
It is important to pay attention to the signs and particularly the time limits and restrictions shown on them. PHVs can pick up or drop off passengers and can park or wait in a Parking bay as long as they obey these limits.
Red route signs:
Hi, I’m a mini cab driver , can I drop passenger in bus lane
Yes you can pick up and drop off passengers in a Bus Lane, however TfL does suggest you avoid where possible.
Hey my name is Muhammad B. I am a Uber driver in September 6th a passenger asked me to drop him on a bus stop at 2 am on High road Seven kings Redbridge.
Now they sent me a pcn of £165 claiming that on 13th the first notice was sent of £55 and i ignored it, but i did not receive it.
What should i do?
Secondly as uber drivers are we not allowed to drop off customers on bus stop? it was a quiet night no any bus or car during that time of the morning at 2 am?
Please help
You can pick up and drop off on some bus stops and bus lanes, but TfL advise it’s better not to.
You cannot drop off on Bus Stops or Bus Lanes marked as Clearways.
With regards to the fines, not all London roads are run by TfL. In areas like Redbridge the council can fine you as the rules are not the same as road in London run by TfL.
As a rule, it’s best not to drop off and pick up from bus stops, just in case you get a fine.
hi can i enter padestrian zone to drop off schools kids while restricted timing?
No, it’s a pedestrian zone and therefore vehicles are not allowed to enter the zone.
Good evening, I was recently issued a PCN by the London Borough of Redbridge, for picking up a rider on a double red line. I did not wait for the passenger.
I appealed, and it was rejected citing that “ you may hold a PHV licence however this red route is not managed by TFL but the local authority, therefore even under the circumstances you’re still not permitted to stop on this restriction for any reason, even to board/alight passengers”.
Please what should I do about this?
Hi Obasi, you can appeal with Redbridge but the rules mentioned in the PHV Drivers Handbook are for London roads only, Redbridge falls under Essex.
i parked in a taxi rank i wasn’t well
Did tfl take any action?
Hi All,
Can you drop off and pick up from a red line or double red line if you are pco driver during day time?
Thanks
Yes, but you cannot wait on single or double red line. So it must be pick up and drop off only, no waiting time at all.
Hi can I drive through a route to drop off or pick up a passenger as mini cab driver where it says no vehicle, accept for access local buses , taxis and bicycle.
Hi Azzajul, no you cannot.
I got ticket for picking up on red route. What is rule / driving xode for reference plz
Well I just received a parking fine on double red route and appeal about that but they not accepting I was picking up customer may be less then 2 min give me advised
Seru make a group of people rich what about poor men doing mini cab for over 20 years have a language issues
Is that ?
The SERU assessment is there to make sure drivers understand the rules of being a Private Hire Driver in London. So it is essential they are able to communicate and understand the rules in order to provide a safe journey to the public.
I was waiting on double yellow for passenger as he took few minutes to come down from his flat I was issued pcn from private company since then I appealed twice but rejected please help
Firstly, you can show them that you had a booking for the pick up. Also, send them a copy of TfL’s PHV Drivers Handbook and highlight Section 6: Driving and Parking in London.
Can I pickup passenger on double red line and if he is disabled so can take time to get in the vehicle and according to the law we can’t refuse them
So can you please guide with appropriate answer
Thanks
Hi Adnan, yes you can wait on double red line to pick up a passenger. Don’t take longer than needed and if you’re worried about a PCN, then keep a record of the booking and reasons.
If there is a single red line on a 24 hour bus lane, can I stop there outside of the hours even though the bus lane is 24 hours?
The exact image in the red routes section (image 2) but on a 24 hour bus lane.
Hi Ryan, you can pick up and drop off on 24 hour red route. BUT, it must only be that, you cannot wait there for a passenger.
For example, if the passenger is already outside, waiting at the kerbside you can pull in and pick up the passenger, even if its a red route.
Hi can I drive through a route to drop off or pick up a passenger if there is a sign in the beginning of the route says no Motor vehicles but it also says “Access only”
Thank you
Hi, can I pick up or drop off a passenger on a Parking bay that says no stopping at any time except loading?
Yes in London. Rules may differ in other areas like Essex and the local authority may send you a PCN.
can i pick up / drop off a passenger at a bus stop
In London only, so be careful when in places like Essex as the local borough may have different rules.
Hi I was issued a PCN for picking up a passenger who was already waiting for me on a double red route, by London Borough of Redbridge. I appealed and it was rejected, citing ” I appreciate that you may hold a PHV licence however this red route is not manage by TFL but the local authority, therefore even under the circumstances you are still not permitted to stop on this restriction for any reason, even to board/alight passenger.”
What is the next step? How can I know which red route should I avoid? and which one are control by TFL? Are we being exploited?
I drop on double red bus line a passenger, i will get the ticket ? Is it possible to drop on double red bus line ?
Hi Ady, yes you can in most London bus lanes, but here’s what TfL advises “You can pick up or drop off passengers: In most bus lanes, although you should avoid this if possible as it might delay or obstruct buses”