Local knowledge for taxi drivers
What taxi drivers must know about local knowledge, routes, landmarks, and navigation.
Why Local Knowledge is Important
Good local knowledge is crucial for providing an efficient and professional taxi service. Even though GPS navigation is available, passengers expect the driver to know the main routes and destinations in the area.
During the knowledge test, there may be questions about local conditions, especially if you operate in larger cities.
Key Destinations
A taxi driver should know the location of:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | Hospitals, emergency room, dental emergency clinic |
| Transportation | Airport, train station, bus terminal, ferry quay |
| Public buildings | Town hall, police station, courthouse, NAV office |
| Education | Universities, colleges, high schools |
| Entertainment | Concert halls, stadiums, large hotels |
| Attractions | Local landmarks and tourist attractions |
Route Planning
Effective route planning saves time and gives satisfied passengers.
- Know the main roads and important traffic hubs in the municipality.
- Have an overview of alternative routes in case of traffic jams, roadworks, or accidents.
- Know which roads have through traffic bans, one-way traffic, or time-limited restrictions.
- Be familiar with rush hour traffic patterns and adjust route choices according to the time of day.
- Stay updated on roadworks and temporary changes in traffic patterns.
Address System
Understanding the local address system makes it easier to find your way.- Numbering can follow odd numbers on one side and even numbers on the other.
- Know the difference between street names that are similar, for example streets with and without “vei” (road), “gate” (street) or “plass” (square).
- Be familiar with postal code boundaries and districts.
- In rural areas, addresses may be based on road numbers and distance from the start of the road.
Environmental Zones and Driving Restrictions
Several Norwegian cities have introduced environmental restrictions that affect taxi traffic.
- Car-free zones in the city center with limited access.
- Zero-emission zones where only electric vehicles have full access.
- Toll stations with varying rates depending on time and vehicle type.
- Time-limited pedestrian streets that are open for driving outside of shop hours.
Further Reading
- Read about the knowledge tests that test local knowledge.
- See taxi license for the requirements to drive a taxi.
- Read about accessibility and special transportation needs.
- Practice with free theory test to test your knowledge.
Read next
More in The taxi test
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Safety for taxi drivers
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Taxi license and requirements
Everything you need to know about the requirements to get a taxi license in Norway.