LTDA Chairman debates whether new SERU test is a necessary safety measure or more TfL red tape for taxi drivers?
From October 2025, taxi drivers in London will face a new requirement to renew their licences: the Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) test. This addition to the list of regulations has sparked debate within the industry, with many wondering whether it’s a much-needed step towards safety and professionalism or yet another layer of unnecessary bureaucracy.
The SERU test, which will require drivers to correctly answer at least 60% of 36 questions within a 45-minute period, is designed to assess their understanding of essential issues such as passenger safety, equality standards, and regulatory compliance. The topics covered in the test will be compiled in a new Taxi Driver’s Handbook, allowing drivers to study beforehand.
The introduction of the SERU test mirrors the existing rules for Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) drivers, who have been required to take a similar exam since 2021. But the reaction from the taxi trade has been far from welcoming. Experienced drivers, many of whom have decades of service with unblemished records, feel that their long careers are being disregarded. A driver who has never faced any disciplinary action or complaints, they argue, should not have to jump through additional hoops to prove their ability to do a job they’ve already been doing competently for years.
Paul Brennan, Chairman of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), expressed his frustrations in TAXI Newspaper, arguing that the SERU test represents an unnecessary tightening of regulations in an industry already facing considerable challenges. According to Brennan, the test will unfairly burden older drivers and could potentially drive more people away from the trade at a time when retaining drivers is more important than ever.
The trade has seen a significant decline in driver numbers in recent years, and according to Brennan, some argue that the last thing the industry needs is further red tape. The introduction of new requirements for the age of vehicles, the soaring cost of purchasing new cabs, and the rising insurance premiums are already contributing to a dwindling driver base. Adding a mandatory test to renew licences could deter those who are close to retirement or disillusioned by the increasing regulatory burden.
Brennan and others in the trade are not necessarily arguing that safety shouldn’t be a priority, but rather that the current regulatory framework already covers these issues adequately. The Knowledge of London, often considered one of the most rigorous tests for any professional driver in the world, has long served as a benchmark for the high standards expected of London taxi drivers.
Despite these concerns, Transport for London (TfL) seems committed to the new measure. TfL argues that the SERU test is an important part of ensuring that all drivers remain up to date with the latest safety regulations and equality standards, particularly as new policies and legislation evolve. Supporters of the test point out that the transport landscape is constantly changing, and taxi drivers, who serve a diverse public, should be equipped with the most current knowledge of best practices.
However, many in the trade are not convinced. Brennan highlights the numerous other challenges facing drivers today: a 12-year age limit on cabs that forces drivers to replace their vehicles more frequently, the difficulty of securing finance for new electric vehicles, the skyrocketing insurance costs, and an increasing number of road closures and 20mph speed limits. These pressures are contributing to an exodus of drivers, and the addition of the SERU test could exacerbate the situation.
For many, the introduction of yet another test seems out of touch with the practical realities of the trade. Brennan himself questions the rationale behind introducing a test for drivers who have already demonstrated their competence over decades of service. “We should be focusing on retaining our current drivers and not forcing them out with unnecessary obstacles,” he says.
What also frustrates many drivers is the inconsistency between this new requirement and the fact that TfL has still not managed to reinstate the taxi driver’s driving test, which was paused during the pandemic. Brennan finds it ironic that while TfL is introducing new safety-related requirements, it has not yet ensured that new drivers undergo proper driving tests—a critical aspect of ensuring road safety.
Brennan argues that the future of the taxi trade is already precarious, and whether the SERU test will enhance the profession or be viewed as yet another bureaucratic hurdle remains to be seen. There’s no doubt that safety and professionalism are important, but the trade is increasingly feeling over-regulated. For now, drivers will need to prepare for the SERU test in 2025.
