Singapore PDVL key terms

A motor car used to carry passengers for hire and reward under a booking made through an authorised booking service. It may not be hailed on the street or boarded at a taxi stand.

The licence issued by the Land Transport Authority that a person must hold before driving a private hire car for hire and reward. Driving a private hire car without a valid PDVL is an offence.

The statutory board that regulates private hire cars and vocational licences in Singapore. It sets licensing conditions, issues, suspends and revokes vocational licences, and enforces the rules against errant drivers.

Flagging a vehicle down at the roadside, or boarding one at a taxi stand. A private hire car driver must not accept such a request, because private hire trips may only come through app or phone bookings.

A scheme that adds points to a driver's record for traffic offences. When the accumulated points reach the suspension threshold, the driving licence and the vocational licence may be suspended.

Insurance required by law that covers death, injury and property damage the vehicle causes to other people. A private hire car must also be insured for carrying passengers for hire and reward.

The maximum alcohol level permitted while driving. In Singapore this is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, or 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

An offence committed by holding and using a mobile phone while driving, even while the car is stopped at a traffic light or junction. Phone use must never take the driver's attention from controlling the vehicle.

A fixed money penalty offered in place of prosecution for certain minor traffic offences. Paying it settles the case, but demerit points may still be added to the driver's record.

An inverted triangle sign with a red border that tells the driver to slow down and let traffic on the major road pass before entering or crossing it.

A solid white line painted across the road at a Stop sign or junction. The driver must bring the vehicle to a complete halt at the line, then move off only when it is safe.

Two continuous yellow lines along the edge of the road. They mean no parking at any time, day or night, so the vehicle must not be left there even briefly.

A yellow criss-cross box painted on the road surface. A driver must not enter the box unless the exit ahead is clear, so that the box stays free for crossing traffic.

The signal shown between green and red. It warns that the light is about to turn red, so the driver should stop unless doing so would be unsafe.

A lane divider made of short white dashes. A driver may cross it to change lanes or overtake, but only after checking mirrors and blind spots and giving a signal.

A residential area with a lowered speed limit, usually 40 km/h, plus traffic calming measures. These zones are designed to protect elderly pedestrians, who are more likely to be hurt in road accidents.

A pedestrian crossing marked by broad white stripes on the road. A driver must slow down and give way to pedestrians waiting or already crossing, and must not stop on the crossing itself.

A guideline for safe following distance: stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead in good conditions, and allow more in rain or darkness, so there is time to stop.

The area beside and behind the car that cannot be seen in the mirrors. A driver should turn the head to check it before changing lanes, turning, or opening a door into traffic.

When a layer of water builds up between the tyres and the road, so the tyres lose grip and the car slides. It is more likely at high speed or with worn tyres; ease off the accelerator and avoid hard braking.

Driving too closely behind the vehicle in front. It cuts the time available to react and is a common cause of rear-end collisions, especially when traffic stops suddenly.

Slowing the vehicle by releasing the accelerator and changing to a lower gear, letting the engine resist the car's motion. It helps control speed on long downslopes and reduces overheating of the brakes.

Tiredness that slows reactions and judgement. A driver should rest before a long trip, take regular breaks, and pull over somewhere safe to rest at the first signs of drowsiness.

A loss of tyre grip that makes the car slide in a direction the driver did not intend. The correct response is to ease off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction the car is sliding.

Vehicle lights that must be switched on when it rains or when visibility is poor, so the car can be seen by others. Daytime running lights alone may not be enough in heavy rain.

The standard of courtesy, punctuality, cleanliness and communication a passenger expects. Good service means greeting the passenger, confirming the destination, driving smoothly and arriving safely.

A passenger who needs extra help, such as an elderly person, a young child, a pregnant woman or someone with a disability. The driver should allow more time, offer help and drive gently.

Items left in the vehicle by a passenger. The driver should keep them safe, try to return them to the owner, and hand unclaimed items to the company or the police as required.

Singapore's law on handling personal data. A driver must not collect, use or share a passenger's name, phone number, address or trip details for any purpose without the passenger's consent.

The process of receiving a passenger's complaint, listening calmly, apologising where appropriate, explaining what will be done, and passing the matter to the company if it cannot be settled on the spot.

A child seat, booster seat or similar device that keeps a small child secure in the vehicle. Singapore law requires children below 1.35 metres in height to use an appropriate restraint.

A quick inspection before starting a journey covering tyres, lights, brakes, mirrors, wipers, fuel and dashboard warning lights, so that problems are found before the car goes on the road.

The depth of the grooves on a tyre, which clears water and gives grip. Singapore requires at least 1.6 millimetres across the tread; worn tyres lengthen stopping distance and raise the risk of aquaplaning.

A reflective triangular sign kept in the vehicle and placed behind it to warn approaching traffic when the car has broken down. It should be set out only where it is safe to do so.

The flashing turn signals on all four corners of the vehicle, switched on to warn other road users that the car is stopped, broken down, or being towed.

When the engine temperature gauge rises into the red zone. The driver should stop safely, switch off the engine and let it cool before checking the coolant, never opening a hot radiator cap.

Restarting a car with a flat battery by connecting it to a healthy battery with jumper cables, following the correct order of connections to avoid sparks and damage to the vehicle's electronics.

Telling the authorities about a collision. The driver must stop and exchange details; accidents involving injury must be reported to the police within 24 hours, and the insurer and vehicle owner must also be informed.