Norwegian Taxi Licence Exam key terms

Official permit issued by the county authority that allows a person or company to operate a taxi for hire. It states the conditions the holder must meet and can be withdrawn for breaches.

The person or company that holds the taxi permit and is legally responsible for the taxi operation, including the conduct of its drivers and the state of its vehicles.

Personal driving authorisation for taxi drivers, issued after a police conduct check and documented competence requirements. It is held by the driver, not the vehicle owner, and must be carried while working.

Police background check of a taxi driver's conduct record, required before a driving authorisation is granted and repeated at intervals. Serious offences can block or revoke the authorisation.

Taxi dispatch centre that receives bookings, assigns vehicles and may set common service standards for connected drivers. It is a separate business from the individual permit holder.

Duty driving: the obligation of a taxi on rank or on dispatch to accept a reasonable fare in the order it is offered, without picking customers by appearance or destination.

Designated taxi rank where vehicles queue and take customers in turn. Local rules may set how long a taxi may wait there and how the queue is organised.

Ordinary Norwegian driving licence for passenger cars up to 3,500 kg. It is the minimum licence class required to drive a taxi, and it must be valid and carried at all times.

The duty of care every road user owes others: drive so that you can stop safely, adapt speed to conditions and avoid danger. It is the core standard used when judging traffic conduct.

Posted maximum speed for a road section. It is an upper limit, not a target; weather, light, load and road surface may require driving well below it.

Gap kept to the vehicle ahead, commonly at least the distance travelled in three seconds in good conditions. Increase it in rain, darkness, snow or when carrying passengers.

Distance a vehicle travels from the moment braking starts until it stops. It grows with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples the braking distance.

Time between noticing a hazard and acting, typically around one second for an alert driver. Tiredness, alcohol, distraction and medication lengthen it and increase stopping distance.

Rules limiting daily driving and requiring rest breaks, applied to taxi work to prevent fatigue. Drivers must log or document driving time and take mandated pauses.

Required rest period between shifts during which the driver must not perform taxi work. It exists to ensure the driver is fit before starting a new duty period.

Seat belt that driver and all passengers must wear where fitted. The driver is responsible for ensuring children under 15 are secured correctly and for informing adult passengers of the duty.

Approved child restraint or adapted seating suitable for the child's height and weight. Taxis must be able to secure children safely; the driver must know how to fit the equipment.

Alcohol, drugs or other substances that impair driving. Taxi drivers are subject to the same limits as other drivers and may face lower thresholds and stricter consequences for professional driving.

Regulations setting technical requirements for vehicles used as taxis, including periodic inspection, equipment and marking. The vehicle must be approved for hire use before it carries passengers.

Mandatory periodic roadworthiness inspection at an approved test station. A taxi must pass at the required intervals and carry valid documentation while in service.

Tyres, including tread depth and condition, which must meet legal minimums and suit the season. Winter conditions require winter tyres; damaged or worn tyres must be replaced before driving.

Illuminated taxi sign on the roof that shows whether the vehicle is available for hire. It must work and be visible so customers can identify a free taxi.

Approved meter that calculates the fare from distance, time and applicable tariffs. It must be sealed, calibrated and in working order, and the fare shown must match what the customer pays.

The tariff or rate structure that determines how the meter prices a trip, including starting fee, distance rate and time rate. Tariffs may vary by time of day and must be displayed to passengers.

Agreed fixed price for a journey, set before the trip starts and clearly communicated to the customer. It replaces the meter fare only when the customer has accepted it in advance.

Duty to inform passengers about the price basis, such as tariff, starting fee and any fixed price, before or at the start of the journey. Clear price information prevents disputes.

Receipt the passenger is entitled to after the trip, showing the fare and any additional charges. It supports expense claims and gives a record if the fare is disputed.

Card payment device in the taxi. It must be available and working, and the driver must not add undisclosed surcharges or refuse card payment where it is offered.

Assistance dog trained to support a passenger with a disability. It must be allowed to travel with the passenger, and the driver cannot charge extra for it or refuse it on rank.

How easily a taxi service can be used by people with disabilities, including wheelchair access, assistance with boarding and clear communication. It is a legal and service requirement, not a favour.

Passenger who uses a wheelchair and may need a ramped or lift-equipped vehicle. The driver must know how to secure the wheelchair and passenger correctly and treat them with dignity.

Duty to keep confidential what a driver learns about passengers, such as destinations, health or personal matters. It continues after the trip and applies to conversations overheard in the vehicle.

How the driver treats passengers: greeting, confirming the destination, driving smoothly, helping with luggage and resolving problems politely. Good handling reduces complaints and builds repeat business.

Complaint from a passenger about fare, conduct, route or service. The driver should listen, explain, and refer the case to the permit holder or dispatch centre for proper follow-up.

Basic emergency care such as checking breathing, stopping bleeding and placing an unconscious but breathing person in the recovery position until help arrives. A first-aid kit must be carried in the taxi.

Emergency phone numbers for police, fire and ambulance. The driver must know them, keep a phone available and be able to give a precise location when reporting an incident.

Reporting an accident, crime or hazard to emergency services and to the permit holder or dispatch centre. Clear, timely reporting protects passengers and satisfies the operator's duty to follow up.

Thinking ahead about hazards on the route, in the vehicle and with the passenger, and taking steps to reduce them. It covers violence, unsafe passengers, tiredness and difficult road conditions.