PCV Emergency Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Your PCV's brakes fail while travelling downhill. What should you do?
- Switch off the engine immediately
- Use the gears to slow down (engine braking), apply the handbrake gradually, look for an escape route or soft verge, and warn other road users with your horn (Correct answer)
- Steer into oncoming traffic to use their vehicles to stop
- Open the doors to create air resistance
Correct answer: Use the gears to slow down (engine braking), apply the handbrake gradually, look for an escape route or soft verge, and warn other road users with your horn
Use engine braking by changing down through the gears progressively. Apply the handbrake gradually (not suddenly, as this could lock the rear wheels). Look for an escape route, run-off area, or soft verge. Sound your horn and flash your lights to warn others. Do not switch off the engine as you will lose power steering.
Question 2: A passenger is having a suspected heart attack on your bus. What first aid should you provide?
- Give them aspirin and tell them to walk around
- Stop the bus safely, call 999, help the person into a comfortable position (usually sitting up), give them a 300mg aspirin to chew if available and they are not allergic, and reassure them until paramedics arrive (Correct answer)
- Lay them flat on the floor
- Continue driving to the nearest hospital
Correct answer: Stop the bus safely, call 999, help the person into a comfortable position (usually sitting up), give them a 300mg aspirin to chew if available and they are not allergic, and reassure them until paramedics arrive
Stop safely and call 999 immediately. Help the casualty into a comfortable position — usually sitting up with knees bent (a 'W' position) as this eases the strain on the heart. If they are not allergic, give a 300mg aspirin to chew slowly. Stay calm and reassure them until help arrives.
Question 3: What is the correct use of a fire extinguisher on a PCV?
- Aim at the top of the flames for maximum effect
- Stand upwind, aim at the base of the fire, sweep from side to side, and maintain a safe distance (Correct answer)
- Empty the entire extinguisher as quickly as possible into the centre of the fire
- Use it only after all passengers have been moved to the upper deck
Correct answer: Stand upwind, aim at the base of the fire, sweep from side to side, and maintain a safe distance
When using a fire extinguisher, stand upwind so smoke blows away from you. Aim at the BASE of the fire, not the flames. Sweep from side to side across the base. Maintain a safe distance and always keep an escape route behind you. If the fire cannot be controlled quickly, evacuate and wait for the fire service.
Question 4: You witness a collision ahead of you while driving your PCV. No one on your vehicle is injured. What should you do?
- Drive past quickly to avoid getting involved
- Stop your vehicle safely, secure it, check on casualties in the other vehicles, call 999 if needed, and protect the scene from further collisions (Correct answer)
- Continue your route and report it at the depot
- Only stop if the police flag you down
Correct answer: Stop your vehicle safely, secure it, check on casualties in the other vehicles, call 999 if needed, and protect the scene from further collisions
As a professional driver, you have a duty of care. Stop safely without creating additional hazards. Check on casualties and provide first aid if qualified. Call 999 if there are injuries or the road is blocked. Use your vehicle's hazard lights and warning equipment to protect the scene. Inform your passengers of the delay.
Question 5: What should you do if your PCV is hijacked or you face a security threat from a passenger?
- Confront the threat aggressively to protect passengers
- Stay calm, comply with demands if there is immediate danger, activate the covert alarm if fitted, do not put passengers at further risk, and provide information to police as soon as it is safe (Correct answer)
- Lock all doors and refuse to communicate
- Accelerate to the nearest police station
Correct answer: Stay calm, comply with demands if there is immediate danger, activate the covert alarm if fitted, do not put passengers at further risk, and provide information to police as soon as it is safe
In a security threat, the priority is the safety of all passengers and yourself. Stay calm, comply with demands if there is immediate danger, and use covert alarm systems if fitted. Do not take actions that could escalate the situation. When safe, provide police with as much detail as possible about the perpetrator.
Question 6: After a serious incident, what steps should you take to preserve evidence for investigation?
- Clean up the scene to make it safe for other traffic
- Take photographs if safe, note the time and location, record names and details of witnesses, do not move the vehicle unless necessary for safety, and write down your account as soon as possible while it is fresh (Correct answer)
- Only speak to your employer, not the police
- Post details on social media to alert the public
Correct answer: Take photographs if safe, note the time and location, record names and details of witnesses, do not move the vehicle unless necessary for safety, and write down your account as soon as possible while it is fresh
Preserving evidence is crucial. Take photographs of the scene, vehicle positions, and damage if safe. Record the time, location, weather, and road conditions. Get names and contact details of witnesses. Do not move the vehicle unless it is creating a further hazard. Write your account of events as soon as possible while details are fresh.
PCV Emergency Procedures 2
Your PCV's brakes fail while travelling downhill.
What should you do?