UK PCV Case Studies cheat sheet

GB speed limits for buses and coaches: 50 mph on single carriageways, 60 mph on dual carriageways, 70 mph on motorways.

A lower limit shown on signs, or 30 mph where street lighting is present and no sign says otherwise, overrides the national PCV limits.

PCVs first used on or after 1 January 2005 must have a speed limiter set at 100 km/h (about 62 mph).

Highway Code rule 223: give way to a bus signalling to pull away from a stop when it is safe to do so.

Minimum following gap: two seconds in dry weather, four seconds in rain, and up to ten times the dry gap on ice.

At level crossings: approach so you can stop, look and listen, and never enter unless there is room to clear the crossing completely.

A solid white line must not be crossed or straddled, except for limited exceptions such as passing a stationary vehicle, a cyclist or a horse.

Before reversing a large PCV, use a responsible assistant who stays in view in the mirrors; stop immediately if you lose sight of them.

Mandatory speed limits in roadworks and contraflows are enforced by average-speed cameras over the whole signed length.

Minimum tyre tread for a PCV is 1 mm across three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference.

The daily walk-round check before first use covers tyres and wheels, lights, indicators, mirrors, wipers, washers, horn, brakes, steering, bodywork and emergency exits.

Every defect must be recorded in writing; a safety-critical defect must be rectified before the vehicle is used.

Air-brake check: build up pressure until the low-pressure warning goes out, check the system holds pressure, and drain the air tanks daily.

Plated gross vehicle weight and individual axle weights must never be exceeded; overloading is an offence and degrades braking and handling.

Emergency exits must be marked, unobstructed and capable of being opened easily from both inside and outside the vehicle.

Group 2 (PCV) medicals: at age 45, then every five years until 65, then every year from 65.

Group 2 eyesight standard: at least 6/7.5 in the better eye and 6/60 in the other, with a field of vision of at least 160 degrees.

Fire extinguishers and first aid kits carried on a PSV must be present, in date and checked as part of the vehicle checks.

The gangway, entrance and exit steps and all emergency exits must be kept clear of luggage and obstructions for the whole journey.

Luggage goes in the hold or designated racks; heavy items are stowed low and never left on seats or in the aisle.

Never move off until all doors are closed and the steps and platform are clear; use mirrors and CCTV before pulling away.

The number carried must not exceed the seating and permitted standing capacity shown on the PSV licence and vehicle plate.

Where seat belts are fitted, passengers aged three and over must use them and the driver must make sure they are told.

Standing passengers may be carried only on vehicles designed and licensed for them, and only within the permitted capacity.

A wheelchair must be secured with an approved restraint and its occupant restrained, normally facing rearwards against a bulkhead, before moving off.

Evacuation: stop in a safe place, switch off the engine, lead passengers through the nearest usable exit, move them well clear and call the emergency services.

The PSV operator licence disc must be displayed in the windscreen of every vehicle specified on the licence.

Documents not carried at the roadside must be produced at a police station within 7 days.

A PSV needs an annual test: the first test is due 12 months after registration, then every 12 months, and the certificate must be kept.

Insurance must cover the carriage of passengers for hire or reward; the certificate of insurance is the evidence produced to enforcement officers.

Section 19 and Section 22 permits allow community and voluntary groups to provide transport without holding a full PSV operator licence.

The Driver Qualification Card (DQC) is proof of Driver CPC and must be carried while driving professionally.

Other documents to be available: V5C, annual test certificate, plating certificate, tachograph records, driving licence and medical report.

EU/AETR daily driving limit: 9 hours, extendable to 10 hours no more than twice in the same week.

Weekly driving limit is 56 hours; the fortnightly limit is 90 hours over any two consecutive weeks.

A 45-minute break is required after no more than 4.5 hours of driving; it may be split into 15 minutes followed by 30 minutes.

Daily rest is 11 hours, reducible to 9 hours no more than three times between weekly rest periods.

Weekly rest is 45 hours, reducible to 24 hours; a reduced weekly rest must be compensated by an equivalent period taken en bloc.

If the driver card is lost or faulty, drive for up to 15 days and produce a printout at the start and end of each day.

Operators must keep tachograph charts and printouts for 12 months; drivers keep their own records for the current day plus the previous 28 days.

Driver cards must be downloaded at least every 28 days and vehicle units at least every 90 days.

PCV seat belt and child restraint rules apply to passengers aged 3 and over wherever belts are fitted.

It is an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone or similar device while driving a PCV; hands-free use still risks prosecution if not in proper control.

The drink-drive limit in England and Wales is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood; in Scotland it is 50 mg per 100 ml.

At a zebra crossing you must give way once a pedestrian has stepped onto the crossing; you must not park within the zig-zag area.

You must not stop on the yellow criss-cross box at a junction unless your exit is clear, apart from the permitted exceptions.

When emerging from a junction or roundabout in a large vehicle, allow extra time and space for the vehicle's length and tail swing.

In fog, use dipped headlights and fog lights only when visibility is seriously reduced, generally below 100 metres.