PCV Driver Attitude and Awareness 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are driving your bus on a narrow residential street when you meet an oncoming vehicle. What should your approach be?
- Flash your headlights to assert priority
- Show patience, be prepared to give way, and if necessary, stop to allow the other vehicle to pass (Correct answer)
- Sound your horn to warn them
- Maintain your speed as you have right of way due to vehicle size
Correct answer: Show patience, be prepared to give way, and if necessary, stop to allow the other vehicle to pass
A professional PCV driver should show courtesy and patience, being willing to give way.
Professional PCV drivers must demonstrate the highest standards of road courtesy. On narrow streets, no driver has automatic priority unless road signs indicate otherwise.
Question 2: A car driver makes an aggressive gesture at you after you pull out from a bus stop. How should you react?
- Make a gesture back to show you are not intimidated
- Stay calm, do not react, and continue driving professionally (Correct answer)
- Follow the car to explain what happened
- Report the car registration to the police immediately
Correct answer: Stay calm, do not react, and continue driving professionally
Maintaining composure and not retaliating is the professional response to road rage.
Road rage can escalate quickly. As a PCV driver carrying passengers, remain calm, avoid eye contact with the aggressive driver, and maintain safe distance.
Question 3: What is meant by defensive driving in the context of PCV operation?
- Driving aggressively to protect your position
- Anticipating hazards, maintaining safe distances, and planning ahead to avoid conflict (Correct answer)
- Driving slowly at all times
- Always giving way to every other vehicle
Correct answer: Anticipating hazards, maintaining safe distances, and planning ahead to avoid conflict
Defensive driving involves being aware of potential hazards, anticipating problems, and taking preventive action.
Defensive driving involves constant observation, anticipating other road users' actions, maintaining safe following distances, and always having an escape route in mind.
Question 4: Fatigue is one of the biggest risks for PCV drivers. Which of the following is a recognised early sign of driver fatigue?
- Feeling hungry
- Difficulty concentrating and frequent yawning (Correct answer)
- Wanting to listen to the radio
- Feeling too warm in the cab
Correct answer: Difficulty concentrating and frequent yawning
Difficulty concentrating and yawning are well-recognised early warning signs of fatigue.
Early fatigue signs include frequent yawning, difficulty concentrating, heavy eyes, wandering thoughts, and missing road signs. The only cure is sleep.
Question 5: You notice a cyclist ahead on a busy urban road. How much space should you leave when overtaking?
- As close as possible to avoid delaying traffic
- At least 1.5 metres, reducing speed and being prepared for the cyclist to move (Correct answer)
- The same distance as overtaking a car
- No specific distance is required
Correct answer: At least 1.5 metres, reducing speed and being prepared for the cyclist to move
The Highway Code recommends leaving at least 1.5 metres when passing cyclists at speeds up to 30 mph.
The 2022 Highway Code update specifies at least 1.5 metres when passing cyclists at up to 30 mph. PCV drivers must take extra care as their vehicles create significant air turbulence.
Question 6: What does the hierarchy of road users in the Highway Code mean for PCV drivers?
- Larger vehicles have more rights on the road
- Those who can cause the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the risk to others (Correct answer)
- Pedestrians must give way to all vehicles
- PCV drivers have priority over all other road users
Correct answer: Those who can cause the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the risk to others
PCV drivers, operating large vehicles that can cause the most harm, bear the greatest responsibility for the safety of more vulnerable road users.
The 2022 Highway Code hierarchy places proportionate responsibility on those who can cause the greatest harm. PCV drivers are near the top of this responsibility hierarchy.
PCV Driver Attitude and Awareness 2
You are driving your bus on a narrow residential street when you meet an oncoming vehicle.
What should your approach be?