Driver
Guidelines
If you need to know more…
Visit
Changes to using
tfl.gov.uk/pco
red routes for
Email
[email address]
private hire vehicles
MAYOR OF LONDON
Transport for London
MAYOR OF LONDON
Transport for London
Changes to using red routes
Show me a sign
for private hire vehicles
You may have already seen the signage which is
Licensed private hire vehicles are now allowed
shaped like a shield, measuring 173mm high and
to set down and pick up passengers on red routes
140mm wide. It is white and carries the ‘private
provided they are displaying additional
hire’ roundel and the words ‘Pre-booked only’,
signage.
which should help to explain to passengers that
they cannot hail private hire vehicles.
This means you can drop off or collect
your passengers at their required location,
Please note this signage does not replace
whether on single or double red lines or
your existing private hire licence disc. You
in red route loading or parking bays.
must continue to display your private hire
licence disc and wear your private hire
driver’s badge at all times.
Unlike black cabs, private hire vehicles are
difficult to distinguish from other vehicles on
the road. Vehicles will therefore need to display
If the licensed vehicle you are driving is exempt
additional signage so that other road users, police
from displaying the PCO licence discs, then you
and CCTV enforcement operators can easily
cannot display the additional signage, and you will
identify that they are allowed to set down and
not have red route exemption.
pick up on red routes. Ask your operator about
the signage for your vehicle and where it should
be fitted, if this has not been done yet.
On red routes
Once the signage is on your vehicle, you are exempt
• Some sections of red routes carry a single ‘wide
from the general stopping prohibition on red routes
red line’ road marking, which indicates that only
“for so long only as may be required to enable a
buses can stop on this section of red route
passenger to get on or off the vehicle.”
• You are not allowed to drive in bus lanes
Red routes are important corridors that rely on
but you can stop in them to pick up or set down
traffic being able to flow freely. Please remember:
passengers. You must enter and leave the bus
• You must consider the impact your stopping
lane as directly and safely as possible
on red routes will have on other road users,
• If you stop for longer than necessary for the
especially cyclists and buses
passenger to get in or out, you are liable to a
• Make sure that it is safe to stop, and remember
penalty charge
that other road users may not be expecting you to
• You can stop for as long as needed for the
pull over. Look out particularly for cyclists who
passenger to get in or out. For instance,
might be forced into the traffic flow by your action
if ramps or a lift need to be used to allow a
• Beware of opening doors out onto traffic and
wheelchair user into the vehicle, and time must
encourage your customers to use the
be taken to ensure that the wheelchair is in the
kerbside doors
right position and the passenger is secured safely,
this is allowed and all appropriate care should be
• You must not stop anywhere you would cause
taken
an obstruction or safety hazard, including
on zig-zag lines by pedestrian crossings, school
• You cannot park or wait for passengers
crossings etc
except in designated parking bays (not loading
bays) when these are in operation
Wear the sign or wear a fine
Left-hand drive vehicles?
140mm x 173 (V2)
If a private hire vehicle stops to set down and
Many left hand drive private hire vehicles are
pick up passengers on red routes without
exempt from displaying the licence discs, in
displaying the new red route vehicle signage, or
which case they cannot have these signs and
breaking other rules outlined above, a Penalty
cannot benefit from the red route exemption.
Charge Notice of £120 will be issued to the
If the vehicle has licence discs, the rear sticker
registered vehicle owner.
should be applied on the right side of the vehicle
Traffic regulations on red routes are enforced
as normal, and the front one should also be on
using cameras – so if you want to stop on red
the right hand side, below the front licence disc.
routes to set down and pick up passengers make
Will I have problems at the MoT Test?
sure you’re displaying the new vehicle signage.
The MoT inspection manual says that ‘official’
When a fine isn’t fair…
stickers on the windscreen “are only a reason
If you think you’ve been incorrectly issued with
for rejection if they seriously restrict the driver’s
a Penalty Charge Notice for contravening red
view”. The stickers will not seriously restrict
route rules, you should follow the instructions
the view as long as they are fitted in the correct
for challenging it, as set out in the information
place on the great majority of vehicles. If the
provided with the Penalty Charge Notice.
front sticker does seriously restrict the view on
your particular vehicle, you should not apply the
stickers and your vehicle is not eligible for the red
route exemption.
BUS STOP
