PCV Health and Medical Fitness to Drive 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum distance at which a PCV licence holder must be able to read a vehicle number plate in good daylight?
- 15 metres
- 20 metres (Correct answer)
- 25 metres
- 30 metres
Correct answer: 20 metres
Group 2 licence holders, including PCV drivers, must be able to read a standard number plate at 20 metres in good daylight.
Question 2: How often must PCV drivers aged between 45 and 65 undergo a medical examination to renew their licence?
- Every year
- Every 3 years
- Every 5 years (Correct answer)
- Every 10 years
Correct answer: Every 5 years
PCV drivers must have a medical at age 45, then every 5 years until age 65, after which annual medicals are required.
Question 3: Your doctor prescribes you new medication. What should you do before driving your PCV?
- Take a half dose first to assess any effects
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it could affect your driving (Correct answer)
- Wait 24 hours after each dose before driving
- Continue driving as medication is a private matter
Correct answer: Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it could affect your driving
Any medication that could impair driving ability must be checked with a doctor or pharmacist before a PCV driver operates a vehicle.
Question 4: You develop a medical condition likely to last more than 3 months that may affect your ability to drive safely. Who must you inform?
- Your employer only
- The DVLA only
- Both the DVLA and your employer (Correct answer)
- Your insurance company only
Correct answer: Both the DVLA and your employer
A PCV driver must notify both the DVLA and their employer of any medical condition likely to affect safe driving.
Question 5: What is the legal breath alcohol limit for PCV drivers in England and Wales?
- 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath (Correct answer)
- 50 micrograms per 100ml of breath
- 22 micrograms per 100ml of breath
- 0 micrograms per 100ml of breath
Correct answer: 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath
The legal breath alcohol limit for all drivers including PCV drivers in England and Wales is 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath.
Question 6: You feel very drowsy partway through your PCV driving shift. What should you do?
- Open the window and turn up the radio to stay alert
- Drink a strong coffee and continue to your destination
- Stop in a safe place and rest until you are alert enough to drive safely (Correct answer)
- Complete the current route as you are almost finished
Correct answer: Stop in a safe place and rest until you are alert enough to drive safely
Drowsy driving is extremely dangerous; the only safe action is to stop in a safe place and rest before continuing.
Question 7: A PCV driver has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea. What must they do?
- Continue driving as long as they feel rested each morning
- Inform the DVLA and must not drive until the condition is assessed and treated (Correct answer)
- Only drive during daylight hours until they receive treatment
- Voluntarily reduce their shift length as a precaution
Correct answer: Inform the DVLA and must not drive until the condition is assessed and treated
Sleep apnoea is a notifiable condition; the driver must inform the DVLA and must not drive until it is properly assessed and managed.
PCV Health and Medical Fitness to Drive 1
What is the minimum distance at which a PCV licence holder must be able to read a vehicle number plate in good daylight?