Ireland Bus Theory Test cheat sheet
Ireland Bus Theory Test · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Rules of the Road and Road Safety (Bus/Truck Categories)
Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on regional/local roads, 100 km/h on national roads, 120 km/h on motorways; vehicles with a design gross vehicle weight over 3,500 kg and buses carrying standing passengers are generally limited to 80 km/h on national roads and motorways.
A bus may use a bus lane; other vehicles may enter a bus lane only to access a premises, to park where permitted, or when the lane is signposted with times outside which it operates.
Large vehicles must not enter a junction controlled by traffic lights unless the exit is clear, because of their length and slow acceleration.
On a motorway, vehicles with a DGVW over 3,500 kg are prohibited from the outside (right-hand) lane except when turning right or when the lane is a continuous running lane.
Minimum tyre tread depth is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread for cars and light vehicles; for buses and heavy goods vehicles the legal minimum is 1.0 mm.
Overtaking on the left is permitted in Ireland in certain circumstances: when the vehicle ahead is turning right, in slow-moving traffic queues, or where lanes are marked for different destinations.
A driver must yield to traffic already on a roundabout; large vehicles may need to straddle lanes on approach, and other road users should give them room.
Parking/stopping: buses may stop at designated bus stops; other vehicles must not park within 15 metres of a bus stop marking unless signposted otherwise.
Vehicle Safety, Loading and Maintenance for Buses and Trucks
Pre-trip walk-around check: tyres (tread, pressure, damage), lights and indicators, mirrors, windscreen and wipers, fluids, brake and air-pressure warning, load security.
Maximum legal gross vehicle weight and axle weights are shown on the vehicle plate; overloading invalidates insurance and is an offence.
Loads must be secured so they cannot move or fall; a load projecting more than 1 metre behind the vehicle must be marked.
A load projecting forward of the vehicle must not exceed 1 metre; the driver must ensure the load does not obstruct the driver's view or the lights.
Air-brake systems: a warning buzzer/low-pressure light indicates insufficient pressure; the vehicle must not be driven until pressure is restored.
Tachograph and speed limiter: buses and goods vehicles over 3,500 kg DGVW must be fitted with a speed limiter (typically 100 km/h for buses, 90 km/h for HGVs) and a tachograph.
Daily walk-around and defect reporting: defects must be recorded and reported to the operator; a vehicle with a safety defect must not be used.
Passenger safety on buses: doors must be closed before moving off; emergency exits must be unobstructed and clearly marked.
Drivers' Hours, Tachographs and Professional Driving Standards
EU drivers' hours: maximum 9 hours driving per day, extendable to 10 hours twice a week; maximum 56 hours driving per week; maximum 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks.
Breaks: after 4.5 hours driving, a driver must take a 45-minute break, which may be split into 15 minutes followed by 30 minutes.
Daily rest: normally 11 hours, reducible to 9 hours no more than three times between weekly rests; weekly rest normally 45 hours, reducible to 24 hours.
Tachograph records must be retained for 12 months by the operator and produced on request to a Garda or RSA transport officer.
Manual entries must be made on digital tachographs for any work or rest not automatically recorded.
Drivers must carry their driver card and produce it for inspection; using another driver's card or driving without a card is an offence.
Professional standards: no alcohol or drugs, no mobile phone use while driving, correct documentation (CPC, licence category, insurance) carried at all times.
Driver CPC: 35 hours periodic training every 5 years is required for professional bus and truck drivers.
Hazard Awareness, Vulnerable Road Users and Emergency Handling
Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, children, older people and people with disabilities; give them extra time and space.
Blind spots: large vehicles have significant blind spots in front, at the sides and behind; use mirrors and check before moving off or turning.
When turning left, a bus or truck may swing out to the right; cyclists and pedestrians may be alongside - check mirrors and blind spots before and during the turn.
In poor visibility, reduce speed, use dipped headlights and increase following distance; use fog lights only when visibility is seriously reduced.
Skids: avoid harsh braking and steering; ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction of the skid to regain control.
Emergency: if a tyre bursts, hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator and avoid braking hard until the vehicle slows.
Breakdown on a motorway: move to the hard shoulder, switch on hazard lights, exit on the left side away from traffic and call for assistance.
Pedestrian crossings: approach at a speed that allows stopping; yield to pedestrians on the crossing and to those waiting to cross at zebra crossings.
Rules of the Road and Road Safety - Additional Rules for Large Vehicles
Buses and trucks must not use the right-hand lane of a motorway except when overtaking or when the lane is marked for a specific destination.
Large vehicles must maintain a safe following distance; the two-second rule should be doubled in wet conditions and increased further in ice or fog.
At junctions, large vehicles must not block the box junction; they should wait behind the line until the exit is clear.
Reversing: a driver should use a banksman or check all around; reversing from a minor road onto a major road is prohibited.
Traffic calming and width restrictions: drivers must observe height, width and weight restriction signs and plan routes accordingly.
Contra-flow bus lanes: only buses and permitted vehicles may use them; other vehicles may enter only when signposted.
Level crossings: stop if the lights show or the barrier is down; never enter until the exit is clear.
Vehicle Safety and Maintenance - Checks and Defect Management
Tyre checks: correct pressure when cold, tread depth at least 1.0 mm for buses/HGVs, no cuts or bulges; check inner tyres on twin-wheel axles.
Brake checks: test brakes at low speed after starting; listen for air leaks; check the air-pressure gauge reaches the correct level.
Lighting: check headlights, indicators, brake lights, reversing lights, marker lights and hazard lights before each journey.
Mirrors and cameras: adjust before moving off; ensure they are clean and unobstructed.
Load security: use straps, chains or restraints rated for the load; check after the first few kilometres and at intervals.
Passenger doors and emergency exits: test operation; ensure emergency exits open freely and are not blocked.
Fluids: check oil, coolant, screen wash and AdBlue where applicable; low AdBlue can derate the engine.
Defect reporting: record all defects in the daily defect log and report immediately; serious defects mean the vehicle is off the road until repaired.
Drivers' Hours and Tachographs - Records and Compliance
Analogue tachographs use waxed charts; digital tachographs use a driver card and vehicle unit; both record speed, distance, driving time and rest.
Drivers must make manual entries for other work, availability and rest, and must not falsify records.
Records must be produced for inspection at the roadside and at the operator's premises; failure to produce is an offence.
Weekly rest must be taken within each 6-day or 24-hour period as applicable; compensation for reduced weekly rest must be taken en bloc.
Driving time includes time spent at the wheel; other work includes loading, paperwork and vehicle checks.
Operators must keep records for 12 months and carry out periodic compliance checks.
Drivers' hours rules apply to buses and goods vehicles over 3,500 kg DGVW; different rules apply to vehicles under that weight.
Penalties for breaches include fines, disqualification and prosecution; the RSA and An Garda Síochána enforce compliance.
Hazard Awareness and Emergency Handling - Scenarios
Pedestrians stepping out: reduce speed near schools, shops and parked cars; be ready to stop.
Cyclists at junctions: check mirrors and blind spots; give cyclists at least 1 metre clearance when overtaking at speeds up to 50 km/h and 1.5 metres above that.
Motorcyclists: they are less visible; check mirrors twice before changing lanes or turning.
Children: they may run out unexpectedly; drive slowly near schools, playgrounds and housing estates.
Older pedestrians: allow extra time to cross; do not rev the engine or intimidate them.
Emergency vehicles: pull over to let them pass; do not break the law (e.g. red light) to do so.
Adverse weather: reduce speed, increase following distance, use dipped headlights; avoid sudden braking on ice.
Incident scene: protect the scene, call emergency services, do not move injured people unless in danger.
Professional Driving Standards and Legal Responsibilities
Driver CPC: 35 hours periodic training every 5 years; initial CPC includes a theory test and practical test.
Licence categories: bus drivers need category D; truck drivers need category C; both require medical certification and valid CPC.
Insurance: the vehicle must be insured for the use; carrying passengers for hire or reward requires appropriate insurance.
Documentation: carry driving licence, CPC card, insurance certificate and vehicle registration where required.
Fitness to drive: report medical conditions; do not drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medicines that impair driving.
Mobile phones: hands-free is permitted but must not distract; handheld use is an offence.
Record keeping: keep tachograph records, defect reports and training records up to date.
Passenger safety: ensure seat belts are used where fitted; standing passengers only where permitted.
Rules of the Road - Signage, Markings and Speed
Regulatory signs are circular with a red border (prohibitions) or blue (mandatory); warning signs are triangular with a red border.
Speed limit signs: 50, 80, 100 and 120 km/h; special speed limits may apply in housing estates and temporary roadworks.
Road markings: continuous white line means no crossing; broken white line means overtaking permitted when safe.
Box junctions: do not enter unless the exit is clear.
Bus stop markings: yellow zig-zag lines indicate no parking; buses may stop.
Traffic lights: amber means stop unless it is unsafe to do so; a flashing amber at a pedestrian crossing means yield to pedestrians.
Roundabout signs: yield to traffic already on the roundabout; use indicators correctly when exiting.
Vehicle Loading and Dimensions
Maximum vehicle height, width and length are set by law; check the vehicle plate and route restrictions.
Loads must not exceed the maximum authorised mass (MAM) or axle weights.
Loads must be evenly distributed and secured; loose loads must be covered.
Projecting loads: more than 1 metre behind must be marked with a red flag or marker; forward projection must not exceed 1 metre.
Overhanging loads must not obstruct lights, mirrors or the driver's view.
Passenger luggage must be stowed safely and must not block aisles or emergency exits.
Roof loads must be within the manufacturer's limits and secured.
Weighbridges may be used by enforcement officers to check axle weights.
Emergency Handling and Incidents
Breakdown: move to a safe place, switch on hazard lights, place a warning triangle where safe (not on motorways), and call for help.
Fire: stop, switch off the engine, evacuate passengers, call the fire service; do not open the engine cover if the fire is there.
Collision: stop, switch on hazard lights, check for injuries, call emergency services, exchange details.
First aid: do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger; keep them warm and comfortable.
Motorway emergency: use emergency phones or call 999/112; stand behind the barrier.
Flooded roads: do not attempt to drive through deep water; if unavoidable, drive slowly in a low gear.
Fog: use fog lights only when visibility is seriously reduced; switch them off when visibility improves.
Vulnerable Road Users - Specific Guidance
Cyclists: give at least 1 metre clearance at speeds up to 50 km/h and 1.5 metres above 50 km/h.
Motorcyclists: check mirrors and blind spots; they may be hidden in blind spots.
Pedestrians: yield at zebra crossings; do not park on footpaths or cycle lanes.
Children: drive slowly near schools and playgrounds; be prepared for unpredictable behaviour.
Older people and people with disabilities: allow extra time; do not pressure them.
Horse riders: pass slowly and widely; do not sound the horn.
Blind spots: large vehicles have large blind spots; use mirrors and cameras and check before manoeuvring.
Tachograph and Drivers' Hours - Practical Rules
Daily driving limit: 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours twice a week.
Weekly driving limit: 56 hours; fortnightly limit: 90 hours.
Break: 45 minutes after 4.5 hours driving; can be split into 15 + 30 minutes.
Daily rest: 11 hours, reducible to 9 hours three times between weekly rests.
Weekly rest: 45 hours, reducible to 24 hours; compensation required.
Records: keep for 12 months; produce on request.
Digital tachograph: insert card before driving; make manual entries for other work.
Enforcement: RSA and Gardaí check compliance; penalties apply for breaches.
Vehicle Safety - Brakes, Tyres and Lights
Brakes: check air pressure, listen for leaks, test at low speed.
Tyres: minimum tread 1.0 mm for buses/HGVs; check pressure when cold.
Lights: check all lights including indicators, brake lights and hazard lights.
Mirrors: adjust and clean before moving off.
Windscreen: check for cracks and chips; ensure washers work.
Seat belts: check condition and operation.
Emergency exits: check they open freely and are unobstructed.
Defect log: record and report all defects.
Rules of the Road - Junctions and Roundabouts
At junctions, yield to traffic on the major road; do not block the junction.
At roundabouts, yield to traffic already on the roundabout; use indicators correctly.
Box junctions: do not enter unless the exit is clear.
Traffic lights: amber means stop unless unsafe; flashing amber at pedestrian crossings means yield.
Right of way: never assume; make eye contact and proceed only when safe.
Large vehicles may need extra space to turn; do not overtake on the approach to a junction.
Pedestrian crossings: yield to pedestrians on the crossing.
Professional Standards - Fitness, Documentation and Conduct
Fitness: report medical conditions; do not drive if impaired by alcohol, drugs or medicine.
Documentation: carry licence, CPC card, insurance and vehicle documents.
Mobile phones: handheld use is prohibited; hands-free must not distract.
Driver CPC: 35 hours training every 5 years.
Licence categories: D for buses, C for trucks; medical certification required.
Insurance: must cover the use of the vehicle; carrying passengers for hire requires appropriate cover.
Record keeping: tachograph records, defect reports and training records must be kept up to date.
Conduct: be courteous, do not intimidate other road users, and follow the rules of the road.
Hazard Awareness - Weather and Road Conditions
Wet roads: reduce speed, increase following distance, avoid sudden braking.
Ice and snow: drive slowly, use gentle steering and braking, avoid steep hills if possible.
Fog: use dipped headlights and fog lights only when visibility is seriously reduced.
High winds: hold the steering wheel firmly, be aware of crosswinds on exposed roads.
Flooding: do not drive through deep water; if unavoidable, drive slowly in a low gear.
Night driving: use dipped headlights, reduce speed, be aware of reduced visibility.
Roadworks: observe temporary speed limits and signs; allow extra time.
Vehicle Loading - Securing and Distribution
Loads must be secured so they cannot move or fall.
Loads must not exceed the maximum authorised mass or axle weights.
Loads must be evenly distributed.
Projecting loads: more than 1 metre behind must be marked; forward projection must not exceed 1 metre.
Loads must not obstruct lights, mirrors or the driver's view.
Passenger luggage must not block aisles or emergency exits.
Roof loads must be within manufacturer's limits and secured.
Weighbridges may be used to check axle weights.
Emergency Handling - Incidents and First Aid
Collision: stop, switch on hazard lights, check for injuries, call emergency services, exchange details.
Breakdown: move to a safe place, switch on hazard lights, place a warning triangle where safe (not on motorways).
Fire: stop, switch off engine, evacuate passengers, call fire service.
First aid: do not move injured people unless in danger; keep them warm.
Motorway emergency: use emergency phones or call 999/112; stand behind the barrier.
Flooded roads: do not attempt to drive through deep water.
Fog: use fog lights only when visibility is seriously reduced.
Incident scene: protect the scene, call emergency services, do not move injured people unless in danger.
Vulnerable Road Users - Sharing the Road
Cyclists: give at least 1 metre clearance at speeds up to 50 km/h and 1.5 metres above 50 km/h.
Motorcyclists: check mirrors and blind spots; they may be hidden.
Pedestrians: yield at zebra crossings; do not park on footpaths or cycle lanes.
Children: drive slowly near schools and playgrounds.
Older people and people with disabilities: allow extra time.
Horse riders: pass slowly and widely; do not sound the horn.
Blind spots: large vehicles have large blind spots; use mirrors and cameras.
At junctions, check for cyclists and pedestrians before turning.
Tachograph - Records and Inspection
Analogue tachographs use waxed charts; digital tachographs use a driver card and vehicle unit.
Drivers must make manual entries for other work, availability and rest.
Records must be produced for inspection at the roadside and at the operator's premises.
Weekly rest must be taken within each 6-day or 24-hour period as applicable.
Driving time includes time at the wheel; other work includes loading and paperwork.
Operators must keep records for 12 months.
Drivers' hours rules apply to buses and goods vehicles over 3,500 kg DGVW.
Penalties for breaches include fines, disqualification and prosecution.
Vehicle Safety - Pre-Departure Checks
Walk-around check: tyres, lights, mirrors, windscreen, wipers, fluids, brake and air-pressure warning, load security.
Tyre checks: correct pressure when cold, tread depth at least 1.0 mm for buses/HGVs, no cuts or bulges.
Brake checks: test brakes at low speed after starting; listen for air leaks.
Lighting: check headlights, indicators, brake lights, reversing lights, marker lights and hazard lights.
Mirrors and cameras: adjust before moving off; ensure they are clean.
Load security: use straps, chains or restraints rated for the load.
Passenger doors and emergency exits: test operation; ensure exits open freely.
Defect reporting: record all defects in the daily defect log and report immediately.
Rules of the Road - Speed and Following Distance
Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on regional/local roads, 100 km/h on national roads, 120 km/h on motorways.
Vehicles with a DGVW over 3,500 kg and buses carrying standing passengers are generally limited to 80 km/h on national roads and motorways.
Two-second rule: maintain at least a two-second gap in dry conditions; double it in wet conditions and increase further in ice or fog.
Large vehicles need longer stopping distances; increase following distance accordingly.
At junctions, do not enter unless the exit is clear.
On motorways, vehicles over 3,500 kg are prohibited from the outside lane except when turning right or when the lane is a continuous running lane.
Observe temporary speed limits at roadworks.
Reduce speed in poor visibility and near schools.
Professional Driving Standards - Legal Responsibilities
Driver CPC: 35 hours periodic training every 5 years.
Licence categories: D for buses, C for trucks; medical certification required.
Insurance: must cover the use of the vehicle; carrying passengers for hire requires appropriate cover.
Documentation: carry driving licence, CPC card, insurance certificate and vehicle registration where required.
Fitness to drive: report medical conditions; do not drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medicines that impair driving.
Mobile phones: hands-free is permitted but must not distract; handheld use is an offence.
Record keeping: keep tachograph records, defect reports and training records up to date.
Passenger safety: ensure seat belts are used where fitted; standing passengers only where permitted.
Hazard Awareness - Vulnerable Road Users and Emergency Handling
Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, children, older people and people with disabilities.
Blind spots: large vehicles have significant blind spots in front, at the sides and behind.
When turning left, a bus or truck may swing out to the right; cyclists and pedestrians may be alongside.
In poor visibility, reduce speed, use dipped headlights and increase following distance.
Skids: avoid harsh braking and steering; ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction of the skid.
If a tyre bursts, hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator and avoid braking hard.
Breakdown on a motorway: move to the hard shoulder, switch on hazard lights, exit on the left side away from traffic.
Pedestrian crossings: approach at a speed that allows stopping; yield to pedestrians on the crossing.
Vehicle Loading - Legal Limits and Markings
Maximum legal gross vehicle weight and axle weights are shown on the vehicle plate.
Overloading invalidates insurance and is an offence.
Loads must be secured so they cannot move or fall.
A load projecting more than 1 metre behind the vehicle must be marked.
A load projecting forward of the vehicle must not exceed 1 metre.
The driver must ensure the load does not obstruct the driver's view or the lights.
Loads must be evenly distributed.
Weighbridges may be used by enforcement officers to check axle weights.
Tachograph and Drivers' Hours - Rest and Breaks
After 4.5 hours driving, a driver must take a 45-minute break, which may be split into 15 minutes followed by 30 minutes.
Daily rest: normally 11 hours, reducible to 9 hours no more than three times between weekly rests.
Weekly rest: normally 45 hours, reducible to 24 hours.
Compensation for reduced weekly rest must be taken en bloc.
Drivers must carry their driver card and produce it for inspection.
Using another driver's card or driving without a card is an offence.
Manual entries must be made on digital tachographs for any work or rest not automatically recorded.
Records must be retained for 12 months by the operator.
Vehicle Safety - Tyres, Brakes and Lights
Minimum tyre tread depth is 1.0 mm for buses and heavy goods vehicles.
Check tyre pressure when cold; check inner tyres on twin-wheel axles.
Brake checks: test brakes at low speed after starting; listen for air leaks.
Air-brake systems: a warning buzzer/low-pressure light indicates insufficient pressure; do not drive until pressure is restored.
Check headlights, indicators, brake lights, reversing lights, marker lights and hazard lights before each journey.
Mirrors and cameras must be clean and adjusted before moving off.
Windscreen and wipers must be in good condition.
Defects must be recorded and reported to the operator.
Rules of the Road - Bus Lanes and Stopping
A bus may use a bus lane; other vehicles may enter a bus lane only to access a premises, to park where permitted, or when the lane is signposted with times outside which it operates.
Buses may stop at designated bus stops; other vehicles must not park within 15 metres of a bus stop marking unless signposted otherwise.
Contra-flow bus lanes: only buses and permitted vehicles may use them.
Yellow zig-zag lines at bus stops indicate no parking.
Large vehicles must not enter a junction controlled by traffic lights unless the exit is clear.
On a motorway, vehicles over 3,500 kg are prohibited from the outside lane except when turning right or when the lane is a continuous running lane.
Overtaking on the left is permitted in certain circumstances: when the vehicle ahead is turning right, in slow-moving traffic queues, or where lanes are marked for different destinations.
A driver must yield to traffic already on a roundabout; large vehicles may need to straddle lanes on approach.
Hazard Awareness - Emergency Handling Scenarios
Pedestrians stepping out: reduce speed near schools, shops and parked cars; be ready to stop.
Cyclists at junctions: check mirrors and blind spots; give cyclists at least 1 metre clearance when overtaking at speeds up to 50 km/h and 1.5 metres above that.
Motorcyclists: they are less visible; check mirrors twice before changing lanes or turning.
Children: they may run out unexpectedly; drive slowly near schools, playgrounds and housing estates.
Older pedestrians: allow extra time to cross; do not rev the engine or intimidate them.
Emergency vehicles: pull over to let them pass; do not break the law (e.g. red light) to do so.
Adverse weather: reduce speed, increase following distance, use dipped headlights; avoid sudden braking on ice.
Incident scene: protect the scene, call emergency services, do not move injured people unless in danger.
Professional Driving Standards - Conduct and Compliance
Driver CPC: 35 hours periodic training every 5 years.
Licence categories: D for buses, C for trucks; medical certification required.
Insurance: must cover the use of the vehicle; carrying passengers for hire requires appropriate cover.
Documentation: carry driving licence, CPC card, insurance certificate and vehicle registration where required.
Fitness to drive: report medical conditions; do not drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medicines that impair driving.
Mobile phones: hands-free is permitted but must not distract; handheld use is an offence.
Record keeping: keep tachograph records, defect reports and training records up to date.
Passenger safety: ensure seat belts are used where fitted; standing passengers only where permitted.