PSV Driver Conduct, Documentation and Operator Compliance
This domain tests the professional and paperwork side of PSV work: how the driver behaves, what must be carried, and what the operator must maintain. Examiners often frame it as a roadside inspection or a complaint from a passenger.
Driver conduct
- No alcohol or drugs before or during duty; no phone use while driving; no smoking in the vehicle.
- Be courteous and calm with passengers, even under provocation. No touting, no racing other buses, no fare disputes that distract from driving.
- Follow the authorised route and the displayed fare chart. Do not detour for extra passengers.
- Assist elderly passengers and persons with disabilities, and stop only at designated points.
- Report every crash, near miss and defect promptly.
Documents to carry
- Driving licence with the correct class and PSV authorisation, plus a valid medical certificate.
- Vehicle inspection certificate, PSV licence and current insurance covering passengers.
- Route and fare chart displayed where passengers can read it.
Operator compliance
- Keep maintenance and defect records, fit and seal the speed limiter, and track driver hours.
- Employ licensed drivers, provide training and ensure SACCO and NTSA requirements are met.
- Report crashes and maintain insurance without gaps.
Worked example
At a checkpoint the driver's PSV authorisation is valid but the vehicle insurance expired two days ago. The vehicle must be stopped from carrying passengers until cover is restored, whatever the driver's licence says. Insurance is a vehicle-level condition, so an expired policy grounds the bus and exposes the operator to penalties.
Traps that cost marks
Assuming a private driving licence covers PSV work; treating the operator as solely responsible for the driver's documents; and thinking a photocopy of a certificate is acceptable.