TLC Passenger Safety & Service 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What must a TLC driver do before a passenger exits the vehicle on a street?
- Always exit the vehicle to open the door for the passenger
- Check mirrors and ensure it is safe before the passenger opens the door (Correct answer)
- Ask the passenger to wait until a green light
- Honk the horn to alert cyclists before the passenger exits
Correct answer: Check mirrors and ensure it is safe before the passenger opens the door
Drivers must check for cyclists and traffic before allowing passengers to open doors to prevent 'dooring' accidents.
Question 2: A passenger requests to sit in the front seat. Under TLC rules, a driver should:
- Always refuse front seat passengers for safety reasons
- Allow it if the front seat is otherwise unoccupied and no safety rule is violated (Correct answer)
- Charge an extra fee for front seat seating
- Require the passenger to sign a waiver first
Correct answer: Allow it if the front seat is otherwise unoccupied and no safety rule is violated
TLC does not prohibit front seat passengers; it is permitted when the seat is available and all occupants are belted.
Question 3: Which of the following is a TLC driver's responsibility regarding seatbelts?
- Only children under 12 must be reminded to wear seatbelts
- The driver must inform passengers that seatbelts are available and encourage their use (Correct answer)
- Seatbelt compliance is entirely the passenger's responsibility with no driver duty
- The driver must physically buckle every passenger's seatbelt
Correct answer: The driver must inform passengers that seatbelts are available and encourage their use
TLC drivers are required to inform passengers about seatbelt availability; passenger compliance is ultimately the passenger's responsibility.
Question 4: What action should a TLC driver take if they suspect a passenger is a minor traveling alone late at night?
- Refuse service entirely without further action
- Complete the trip normally without any concern
- Exercise reasonable caution, provide safe transport, and report concerns to appropriate authorities if warranted (Correct answer)
- Ask the minor for proof of age before accepting the ride
Correct answer: Exercise reasonable caution, provide safe transport, and report concerns to appropriate authorities if warranted
Drivers should ensure vulnerable passengers reach their destination safely and report genuine safety concerns to authorities when appropriate.
Question 5: A passenger asks you to wait while they run an errand. The meter is running. This is:
- Prohibited under TLC rules
- Allowed; the meter continues to run during the wait (Correct answer)
- Allowed only if the wait is under five minutes
- Allowed only if the passenger pays in advance for the wait time
Correct answer: Allowed; the meter continues to run during the wait
TLC rules permit drivers to wait for passengers while the meter continues to run, as wait time is a legitimate charge.
Question 6: During a trip, a passenger asks you to make an unscheduled additional stop. You should:
- Refuse all unscheduled stops as a TLC policy
- Agree if it is safe and reasonable, and the meter continues to run (Correct answer)
- Charge a flat additional fee for each extra stop
- Only agree if the total trip stays under 30 minutes
Correct answer: Agree if it is safe and reasonable, and the meter continues to run
Additional stops are permitted at the driver's reasonable discretion as long as the meter runs and safety is maintained.
Question 7: A passenger boards and the vehicle has a strong odor from a previous passenger. The current passenger complains. A professional driver should:
- Tell the passenger to tolerate it and ignore the complaint
- Apologize, offer to increase ventilation, and ensure the vehicle is properly cleaned after the trip (Correct answer)
- Charge a cleaning fee retroactively to the previous passenger
- Immediately end the current trip to clean the vehicle
Correct answer: Apologize, offer to increase ventilation, and ensure the vehicle is properly cleaned after the trip
Professional drivers acknowledge complaints courteously, improve conditions immediately where possible, and maintain clean vehicles as required by TLC.
TLC Passenger Safety & Service 3
What must a TLC driver do before a passenger exits the vehicle on a street?