UK PCV Case Studies key terms

The driving licence category that lets a person drive a bus or coach with more than eight passenger seats. It is gained by passing the PCV theory and practical driving tests.

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence. Professional bus and coach drivers must hold it, pass the initial tests, and complete 35 hours of periodic training every five years to keep it valid.

The limits for buses and coaches on roads with no lower signed limit: 50 mph on single carriageways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and 70 mph on motorways.

A device fitted to a bus or coach that caps its top speed, usually at 62 mph (100 km/h), so the vehicle cannot be driven faster even where a higher limit applies.

The standard routine before any change of direction or speed: check all mirrors, give the correct signal in good time, then carry out the manoeuvre only when it is safe.

A way of judging a safe gap: stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle in front in dry conditions, and allow at least double that in rain or on slippery roads.

A marked length of kerb where other vehicles may not stop or park, so buses can pull in. Drivers should still check mirrors and blind spots before moving off again.

The overall height of a bus or coach, including roof hatches and racks, which the driver must know. Striking a low bridge can injure passengers and badly damage the vehicle.

An area around the vehicle that the mirrors do not show. Buses and coaches have large blind spots, especially close in front, at the sides and behind, so extra checks are needed.

The inspection a driver makes before each shift, looking at tyres, lights, brakes, mirrors, bodywork, emergency exits, fire extinguishers and fluid levels, and reporting any faults found.

Recording any fault found on the vehicle and telling the operator straight away, so it is repaired and signed off before the vehicle is used again. Records must be kept.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency: the government body that sets vehicle standards, carries out PSV annual tests, and inspects operators, vehicles and drivers' records.

The yearly safety inspection that every bus and coach must pass to stay on the road, covering brakes, steering, suspension, lights, tyres, bodywork, emissions and seat belts.

An order from an examiner or police officer that a vehicle must be taken off the road, either immediately or after a set date, because it is dangerous or overloaded.

The legal minimum for a bus or coach tyre is 1 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference, with no cuts, bulges or exposed cords.

PCV drivers must be able to read a number plate at 20 metres, wearing glasses or lenses if needed, and have an adequate field of vision whenever they drive.

A doctor's examination confirming a driver meets DVLA's higher fitness standards for bus and lorry drivers, first needed at 45 and then at set intervals, more often after 65.

Tiredness that slows reactions and can cause a driver to fall asleep at the wheel. Drivers should plan breaks, avoid driving when drowsy, and never rely on fresh air or music.

A portable extinguisher carried on the vehicle, checked for pressure and service date, used only on a small fire while passengers are evacuated and the emergency services are called.

A door, window or roof hatch that can be opened in an emergency. It must be clearly marked, kept unobstructed, and checked during the daily walk-around.

Restraints fitted to seats. Where fitted, passengers must use them and the driver should tell them so; children need the correct restraint or seat for their height and weight.

Passengers travelling on their feet on local services that are licensed to carry them, within the marked capacity, and never on seats, stairs or in areas that block exits.

Storing bags and cases so they cannot slide or fall in the luggage hold, racks or under seats, and never in aisles, doorways or emergency exits where they would block escape.

Getting all passengers off the vehicle safely after a fire, crash or breakdown, using the nearest usable exit, helping those who need it and moving everyone well clear of traffic.

The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations, which require buses and coaches to meet standards for wheelchair spaces, ramps, priority seats, handrails, contrast and information.

A ramp or lift that lets a wheelchair user get on and off an accessible vehicle. It must work, be used correctly, and the wheelchair space secured before the vehicle moves.

Carrying children to and from school. Drivers should make sure children are supervised, seated and belted where required, and check the vehicle so nobody is left on board.

Seats, usually near the doors, marked for older and disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility, who should be given time to reach a seat before the bus moves off.

The recording equipment on the vehicle that logs driving time, other work, breaks and rest, on paper charts or in a digital unit, used to check the drivers' hours rules.

A personal smart card each driver inserts into the vehicle unit to record their activity. It must be kept clean and undamaged, and its loss or theft reported within seven days.

A record the driver adds to the tachograph to show work, availability, breaks or rest done while the card was not in the unit, so the day's record is complete.

The EU/GB rules for coach drivers: at most 9 hours' driving a day, extended to 10 hours twice a week, 56 hours in a week and 90 hours in any two weeks.

After 4 hours 30 minutes of driving a driver must take at least 45 minutes' break, which can be split into a 15-minute and a 30-minute period taken in that order.

The rest between one shift and the next: normally 11 hours, which can be reduced to 9 hours no more than three times between weekly rest periods.

A continuous rest of at least 45 hours each week. It can be reduced to 24 hours in some weeks, but the shortfall must be paid back with extra rest.

Simpler hours rules used on some bus work not covered by EU rules: no more than 10 hours' driving a day and 11 hours on duty, with records kept for 28 days.

Drivers must keep tachograph charts, printouts and manual entries covering the current day and the previous 28 days, and show them to an enforcement officer on request.

The disc displayed in the vehicle showing it is covered by a valid PSV operator licence, carrying the operator's name, licence number and vehicle registration details.