PCV Vehicle Checks and Daily Inspection 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Before driving a bus, who is responsible for carrying out the daily walk-around check?
- The vehicle fitter
- The traffic office
- The driver (Correct answer)
- The operator's transport manager
Correct answer: The driver
The driver is personally responsible for carrying out a daily walk-around inspection before every journey.
Under road traffic legislation and operator licence conditions, the driver must carry out a daily walk-around check before taking the vehicle out. This includes checking tyres, lights, mirrors, brakes, bodywork, doors, and fluid levels. A defect report must be completed if any fault is found.
Question 2: What tyre tread depth is the legal minimum for a bus or coach?
- 1 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width
- 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width (Correct answer)
- 2 mm across the full tread width
- 3 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width
Correct answer: 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width
The legal minimum tyre tread depth for buses and coaches is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth.
For PSVs, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm measured across the central three-quarters of the tread width and around the entire outer circumference. Tyres below this depth are illegal and will result in prohibition of the vehicle. Operators should set a higher operational minimum (e.g. 3 mm) for safety.
Question 3: During a pre-drive check, you notice a small crack in the windscreen in the driver's line of sight. What should you do?
- Drive carefully and report it at the end of the shift
- Mark it with tape and continue
- Report it as a defect and do not drive until assessed by a fitter (Correct answer)
- Drive only for short local journeys
Correct answer: Report it as a defect and do not drive until assessed by a fitter
A crack in the driver's direct line of sight is a defect that must be reported and assessed before driving.
Windscreen cracks in the driver's swept area are a notifiable defect. The driver must record the defect, inform the operator, and not drive the vehicle until a fitter has assessed and authorised it as safe — or arranged a repair. Driving with an impaired view is an offence and could invalidate insurance.
Question 4: How should you check that air pressure brakes are functioning correctly during a pre-drive inspection?
- Listen for air leaks while stationary and check the pressure gauge reads within the green zone (Correct answer)
- Apply the handbrake and test the footbrake at low speed
- Ask a colleague to press the brake pedal while you watch the wheels
- Check the brake fluid reservoir level
Correct answer: Listen for air leaks while stationary and check the pressure gauge reads within the green zone
For air brakes, the driver should listen for audible air leaks and verify the system pressure gauge is in the correct range.
Air brake systems must be checked by allowing pressure to build to the correct operating range (typically 6.5–8.5 bar) shown on the gauge, listening for air leaks when stationary, and verifying that the low-pressure warning light and buzzer are functional. A driver must not move off until pressure is adequate.
Question 5: What document must a driver complete when they find a defect during a walk-around check?
- A DVSA prohibition notice
- A defect report form (Correct answer)
- An MOT advisory notice
- A traffic commissioner's notice
Correct answer: A defect report form
The driver must complete a defect report form and hand it to the operator.
When a defect is found, the driver must complete a written defect report form — sometimes called a VOR (Vehicle Off Road) sheet or driver defect report — and hand it to the operator immediately. The operator must then arrange for the defect to be rectified and sign off the repair before the vehicle is used again.
Question 6: When checking mirrors before departure, which mirrors are legally required on a double-deck bus operating in the UK?
- Two door mirrors only
- Front-facing CCTV cameras instead of mirrors
- A combination of interior and exterior mirrors giving the driver a full view of the vehicle sides and front (Correct answer)
- Only a single wide-angle offside mirror
Correct answer: A combination of interior and exterior mirrors giving the driver a full view of the vehicle sides and front
Regulations require a combination of mirrors allowing the driver to see along both sides and the area directly in front of the vehicle.
Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, PSVs must be fitted with mirrors that provide the driver with a clear view of the road to the rear and sides of the vehicle, including the nearside close-vision (kerb) mirror and a front-facing close-proximity mirror. All mirrors must be clean, intact, and correctly adjusted.
PCV Vehicle Checks and Daily Inspection 1
Before driving a bus, who is responsible for carrying out the daily walk-around check?