Glossary Term Definition

[Key | adj – adjective | adv – adverb | n – noun | v – verb]

Abuse (n and v) – treating someone in a cruel or violent way.

Accredited organisation (n) – an organisation which is officially recognised for its high standards.

Allergic (adj) – to describe someone who has a bad physical reaction to something. For example, I am allergic to nuts and sea food.

Amend (v)/amendment (n) – to makes changes to documents or rules/laws.

Anonymous (adj)/anonymously (adv) – not giving your name or any personal details. An anonymous letter does not include the sender’s name.

Appeal (v) – to apply to a court to change a previous decision. For example, if you challenge a PCN and your challenge is not accepted, you can appeal to a court called a tribunal.

Approved child car seat (n) – a chair or seat specially designed for children (depending on their age and height) that, together with a seat belt, keeps them safe while travelling in a vehicle.

Assault (n and v) – a serious physical attack.

Assessment (n) – a test of knowledge, understanding or skills.

Assist (v)/assistance (n) – to help or be useful.

Asthma (n) – a medical condition causing breathing difficulties.

Assume (v)/assumption (n) – to believe something without knowing if it is true.

Authorised officer (n) – someone who works for TfL and makes sure taxi drivers comply with the law and with TfL regulations.

Aware (adj)/awareness (n) – if you are aware of something, you know about it or you know that it is there. For example, taxi drivers need to be aware of other road users.

Badge (n) – something with information on it (e. g. name, address, photograph) you wear to show who you are and what your job is.

Barred list (n) – a list of people who are not allowed to work with children or some adults. This list is kept so that children and vulnerable adults can be protected from people who are not suitable to work with them.

Bilking (n) – when a passenger leaves a taxi without paying the fare.

Boot (n) – the space at the back of a car for carrying things.

Brothel (n) – a place where people go to buy sex.

Bulge (n) – a bulge in a tyre is a change in the shape of a tyre, usually in its sidewall.

Byelaw (n) – a regulation made by a local authority.

Cash float (n) – a small number of coins and notes for giving change to customers who pay in cash.

Cashpoint (n) – a bank /cash machine.

Caution (n) – a formal warning given by the police to people who admit to an offence.

Challenge (v) – to refuse to accept that something is right, fair or legal e. g. If you think a PCN is unjustified, you have a right to challenge it and ask for the decision to be reviewed.

Charge (v) – the action taken by the police when they think someone has commit ted a criminal offence. For example, the police charged the driver with dangerous driving.

Civil partnership (n) – a legal joining of two people with rights that are similar to a marriage.

Collision (n)/collide (v) – when a vehicle hits another vehicle or an object. Compartment (n) – a space or area. A taxi has a compartment where the driver sits, and a separate compartment for passengers.

Compel (v)/compellable (adj) – if you are compelled to do something, you must do it because it’s a rule or the law.

Comply with (v)/compliance (n) – to do what an instruction, rule or law tells you to do.

Condition (n) – a medical/health condition is an illness or health problem.) The condition of something is how good it is, for example the weather conditions, the condition of your taxi.) A condition is something that must happen or be agreed so that something else can happen. For example, TfL may add a condition to your driving licence if you do not have full rights to work in the UK.

Confidential (adj) – information that should be kept secret or private.

Congestion (n)/congested (adj) – a large amount of traffic that makes it difficult for vehicles to move on the roads.

Convict (v) – to decide that someone is guilt y of a crime.

Conviction (n) – the decision of a judge or court that someone is guilt y of a crime. For example, the driver has a conviction for speeding.

Corrosion (n) – the natural process where metal changes as it reacts with oxygen and water in the environment. The main type of corrosion for vehicles is rust.

Council (n) – a government organisation, usually in a local area.

Cradle (n) – something used to hold a mobile phone or GPS device in place in your vehicle so that you can use it hands free.

Crime reference number (n) – a number given to you by the police when you report a crime.

Designated wheelchair accessible vehicle (n) – a vehicle that passengers who use a wheelchair can get into while staying in their wheelchair.

Device (n) – a machine or tool used for a particular purpose e. g. a payment device or a safety device.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (n) – a public organisation that checks p eople’s backgrounds, for example, to lo ok for past criminal convictions. The DBS has lists of people who are banned from working with children or some adults.

Discriminate (v)/discrimination (n) – to treat someone unfairly because of a disability or their sex, race, religion, etc.

Disqualified (adj) – to be prevented from doing something. For example, he got more than points on his licence and is now disqualified from driving.

Drop off (v) – to take someone or something to a place. For example, the taxi driver reached the destination and dropped off the passenger.

Duty (n) – responsibility.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA ) (n)–  The DVLA is part of the government ‘s Department for Transport. It keeps records of drivers and vehicles, issues driving licences and collects vehicle taxes.

Emissions (n) – gas and other chemicals sent out into the air when an engine is running. Emission Standards are standards that vehicles meet.

Enforcement (n)/enforce (v) – the process of making sure rules are followed. Enforcement Officers work for local councils.

Enhanced (adj) – at an increased or higher level e.g. a higher level of DBS check that shows more information about a person.

Ensure (v) – to make sure.

Equality Act (n) – the government law which states that people must be treated in a fair way.

Etiquette (n) – the polite and proper way for you to behave towards other taxi drivers.

European Economic Area (EEA) (n) – this includes all countries in the European Union, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Evacuate (v) – to move yourself and/or others to a safe place.

Evidence (n) – facts or signs which show that something is true or that it exists.

Excessive (adj) – too much, so that it becomes a problem. For example, excessive speed.

Exemption (n)/exempt (adj)/exemption notice (n) – to get special permission to not have to do something. For example, the driver got an exemption from having to carry wheelchairs in the taxi.

Expire (v)/expiry (n)/expiry date (n) – when something expires, it is not valid anymore. An expiry date on your licence is the date your current licence ends and a new one is needed.

Exploit (v)/exploitation (n) – to use someone or something in an unfair way.

Fare (n) – the amount of money a passenger pays for a taxi journey. A fare is also an informal expression for a passenger.

Fatigue (n) – feeling very tired.

Feature (n) – an important part of something. For example, features of a vehicle.

Feeder park (n) – a holding area (queue) for taxi drivers who are waiting to use the taxi rank.

First aid (n) – to help a sick or injured person until full medical treatment is available.

Fitness to be licensed (n) – whether you meet the standards to be a licensed London taxi driver.

Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) (n) – a punishment for a driving offence, which usually involves paying a fine and getting, ‘Penalty points’ on your driving licence. It is given by the police to the driver at the time of the offence, or it may be sent to the driver by post.

Fluid (n) – a liquid such as oil or water.

Term Definition Fuse (n) – a part of an electrical system that protects against electric shock.

Gender reassignment (n) – the process of changing sex, from male to female, or female to male, often by using medical procedures such as surgical operations.

Grievance (n) – a formal complaint, or something that people find annoying or upset ting.

Guidance (n) – advice or helpful information.

Hail a taxi (n) – to put your hand out or signal to a taxi driver to stop and pick you up.

Hatch (n) – the small opening between the driver‘s compartment and the passenger compartment for passengers to give the driver cash.

Hate crime (n) – when someone commits a crime against another person based on disability, sex, sexual identity, sexual orientation, race or religion.

Hazard (n) – a possible danger.

Highway Code (n) – a set of rules, regulations, advice and guidelines for all road users in the United Kingdom.

Horn (n) – the part of a vehicle used to make a loud sound to warn others.

Identifiers (n) – green or yellow signs in the front and rear windows of taxis that show the taxi driver’s badge number and the area they are licensed for.

Incident (n) – an event or situation that is often unusual or unpleasant, or a crime.

Indicator (n)/indicate (v) – one of the lights on a vehicle that shows if the driver is turning left or right.

Information Commissioner’s CCTV Code of Practice (n)- This describes the legal requirements for using surveillance cameras (CCTV ) to protect the user and the people the cameras are watching.

Inspect (v)/inspection (n) – to test or check something is working properly or that people are following the rules.

Insurance policy (n) – an arrangement with an insurance company where you pay a fixed amount of money (an insurance premium) and the company agrees to pay you back if something gets lost, stolen or damaged (e. g. in a collision).

Issue (v) – to give or say something in an official way. For example, to issue a licence, or to issue a receipt to a passenger.

Junction (n) – a place where t wo or more roads meet.

Justifiable (adj) – a justifiable reason is a reason that would be accepted by authorised officers, by the police, in a court of law, etc.

Kerb (n) – the stone edge of the pavement.

Lane (n) – one of the parts of a road vehicles travel along e. g. the inside lane, middle lane, outside lane.

Leak (n and v) – when a liquid like oil or water escapes through a hole in something.

Legal tender (n) – a legal expression, which means currency that can legally beoffered in payment for something.

Licence (n) – an official document that gives you permission to own, door use something, usually after you pay money and/or take a test. For example, a driving licence.

Licensed (adj) – approved to do something by an official organisation. For example, approved by TfL to drive a taxi.

Licensee (n) – the person who received the licence.

Licensing (n) – the process of giving licences.

Licensing authority (n) – a local government organisation that is responsible for licensing.

Loading (n)/load (v) – the action of putting things into a vehicle.

Lone worker device (n) – a device that allows for communication with employers or, in more serious situations, with the emergency services.

Lost property (n) – things that passengers leave by accident in the taxi.

Maintenance (n) – repairing and keeping a vehicle in good condition.

Manoeuvre (n and v) – a movement or action that needs skill and/or care to do it. A ‘three-point turn’ or ‘reverse parking’ are examples of driving manoeuvres.

Marshal (n) – a person who manages a taxi queue at a rank.

Materially (adv) – greatly or in a significant way.

Mental Health Order (n) – the arrangements for treating a person with serious mental health problems.

Meter (n) – see taximeter.

Mobility assistance (n) – helping a person with a disability to move around independently.

MOT Certificate (n) – a certificate which shows a vehicle meets the minimum road safety and environmental standards.

Nearside (adj) – the left side of the taxi when sitting in the driver‘s seat, closest to the kerb.

Non-visible (adj) – things we cannot see.

Obey (v) – to do what a person, a rule or the law tells you to do.

Obstruction (n)/obstruct (v) – a thing that stops traffic or slows it down, or something that stops you from doing something. For example, a dirty windscreen obstructs your ability to see the road clearly.

Offence (n)/to commit an offence (v) – something that breaks the law or is against the rules.

Offender (n) – a person who commits an offence.

On-street stop/stop note (n) – when a taxi is checked and something is wrong with it. The vehicle cannot be used as a taxi until the problem is fixed.

Operator (n) – a company that private hire bookings can be made with and gives private hire jobs to taxi drivers or private hire drivers.

Overtake (v) – to go past a vehicle driving in the same direction as you.

Outage (n) – a period when a power supply or other service is not available.

Parking bay (n) – a space big enough for one vehicle in a car park or on the side of the road.

Pedal (n) – the part of a vehicle you touch with your foot to slow it down (the brake pedal), to go faster (the accelerator pedal) and to change gear (the clutch).

Pedestrian (n) – a person who is walking along a street.

Pedestrian clear way (n) – a section of a road where you are not allowed to stop or must not block because pedestrians use the area.

Penalty (n) – a punishment for an offence. For example, penalty points are added to your driving licence for speeding.

Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) (n) – Is a type of fine for breaking road rules, such as parking, loading, bus lanes and yellow box junction rules.

Personal circumstances (n) – your personal situation.

Phobia (n) – an acute phobia is a very strong fear of something.

PHV (n) – Private hire vehicle, a vehicle which is booked with a private hire operator by a passenger.

Plate (n) – a flat piece of metal with words and/or numbers on it.

Ply for hire (v) – looking for passengers or being available to passengers.

Pull away (v) – to drive away, for example, when leaving a parking bay or when traffic lights change to green.

Practicable (adj) – something that can be done successfully.

Proprietor (n)/prop (n) – someone who owns a fleet of taxis and rents them to taxi drivers.

Prosecute (v) – to start legal Action against someone for a crime or other offence. For example, the driver was prosecuted for dangerous driving and had to go to court.

Ramp (n) – a piece of equipment joining two different levels. For example, from the pavement to the taxi so that a wheelchair user can get into a taxi.

Rank (n) – a specific area where taxis wait for passengers.

Rear (n and adj) – the back (of a vehicle).

Reasonable (adj)/reasonably (adv) – something that is fair, sensible and possible.

Reflector (n) – the part of a vehicle that Acts like a mirror in sending light back (such as the red reflectors on the back of a vehicle) for extra safety.

Refusal (n) – when you refuse to take a passenger in your taxi.

Registered keeper (n) – the person named on the DVLA’s records as the owner of a vehicle.

Regulation (n)/regulator y (adj) – a rule or official instruction, or the control of an activity. For example, TfL regulates the taxi industry.

Release (n and v) – when someone is allowed to be free after they have been in a police station or prison.

Renew (v)/renewal (n) – applying for something new, such as to renew a licence when it reaches its expiry date.

Replacement licence (n) – a new licence, when information on the licence needs to change or when the old licence has been lost.

Restriction (n)/restrict (v)/restricted (adj) – a law or rule that controls or limits what you can do. For example, parking restrictions stop you from parking in certain places.

Revoke (v) – to cancel something or take it away. For example, the driver’s licence was revoked after a conviction for dangerous driving.

Run (v) – when equipment or an engine is switched on and working, it is running. For example, the engine is still running – turn it off to reduce emissions.

Rusting (n) – when metal changes colour because of the Action of oxygen and water. Holes then begin to app ear in the metal.

Safeguarding (n) – ways of protecting children and adults who could easily be hurt (physically or emotionally).

Safety, equality and regulatory understanding (SERU) assessment (n) – a test of your knowledge of the information in this handbook. This test is required by TfL.

Scheme (n) – an official plan or programme. For example, a shared-taxi scheme.

Seal (n and v) – to close and protect something. The taximeter is protected by a seal. Self- employed (adj) – to work for yourself and be responsible for your own tax payments.

Set down (v) – to drop off passengers.

Sexual Offences Order (n) – the arrangements by which a person must live if they have committed a sexual offence. This is to ensure they are not a risk to the public or individuals.

Sexual orientation (n) – a person’s sexual identity, who they are attracted to emotionally or sexually. They may feel they are heterosexual, gay, bisexual, etc.

Signage (v) – collection of signs, notices and stickers given by TfL to taxi drivers to display in their vehicles.

Speeding (n)/speed (v) – driving faster than the speed limit.

Stamp (v) – to make an official mark on something. For example, the vehicle registration number is stamp ed on your taxi ‘s wheelchair ramp.

Standard (n) – a level of quality that is acceptable. For example, taxi drivers must have a certain standard of medical health and fitness to get a licence.

Standards (n) – rules.

Stationary (adj) – stopped, not moving.

Steering wheel (n) – the wheel you turn to control the direction of a vehicle.

Subscribe (n)/subscription (v) – to pay to use a service.

Suburban sectors (n) – different areas of outer London.

Suspend (v) – to stop for a short time. For example, a taxi driver‘s licence may be susp ended if there are many complaints against them. During this time, the driver cannot work.

Suspicious (adj) – something that appears to involve a crime. For example, suspicious behaviour or a suspicious package.

Taxi (n) – a London black cab.

Taximeter (n) – the equipment in a taxi that calculates the passenger fares.

Tax return (n) – a form for taxpayers to list their income so that HMRC (the tax office) can produce their tax bill.

Terminal (n) – an Airport building where passengers arrive or depart.

Think fit (v) – when you think that something is appropriate. For example, you can start the taximeter at such later time as you think fit.

Touting (n)/tout (v) – to approach people directly to try to sell them something. For example, touting for fares is illegal for taxi and private hire drivers.

Trafficking (n)/traffic (v) – dealing or trading in something illegal. For example, human trafficking involves taking away people’s freedom or making them do things they don’t want to do.

Tread (n) – the part of a tyre that has contact with the ground and helps the vehicle ‘stick to the road’. The tread contains a pattern of blocks with grooves (deep gaps), and as these are worn down, the tyre becomes less effective and may become dangerous.

Tyre wear bar indicators (n) – small pieces of rubber in the grooves (gaps) of the tyre that help you to see if the tyre has worn down too far. The minimum legal depth on a tyre is 1.6mm across the tyre tread (see Tread).

Unconscious (adj) – to be in a condition like sleep, often the result of an injury to the head, drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

Unjustified (adj) – something that you don’t deserve. For example, a conviction that is wrong or not your fault.

Vehicle registration number (n) – the numbers and letters on a vehicle’s number plate.

Verbal abuse (n) – Shouting, insulting, threatening someone.

Vision (n) – the ability to see.

Vulnerable (adj) – to be at greater risk of physical or emotional harm. For example, children are vulnerable to harm from criminals.

Windscreen (n) – the front window of a vehicle.

Wipers (n) – the parts of a vehicle that clear the windscreen or the rear window when it’s raining.

Witness (n and v) – to see an event, often a crime, as it happens (and therefore be able to give information to the police).

Working order (n) – when equipment functions/operates correctly, it is in good or full working order

Zig-zag lines (n) – a pattern of painted markings on the road sur face on both sides of a pedestrian crossing which show that no parking, waiting or over taking is allowed.