UK PCV Theory Accident and Breakdown Procedures Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Your coach suffers a sudden breakdown on a 'smart' motorway which has no hard shoulder. What is your primary objective?
- Stop immediately in the live lane, ensuring hazard lights are on.
- Attempt to steer the vehicle into a designated Emergency Refuge Area (ERA). (Correct answer)
- Instruct all passengers to evacuate the vehicle via the nearside doors at once.
- Try to coast to the central reservation to be clear of the main traffic flow.
Correct answer: Attempt to steer the vehicle into a designated Emergency Refuge Area (ERA).
On a smart motorway without a hard shoulder, the safest place to stop is a designated Emergency Refuge Area (ERA). Stopping in a live lane should only be a last resort if the vehicle cannot be moved. Evacuating in a live lane is extremely dangerous, as is stopping in the central reservation.
Question 2: You have been forced to stop your bus on the carriageway of a single-carriageway A-road due to a mechanical fault. According to the Highway Code, what is the correct procedure regarding the use of a red warning triangle?
- It should not be used on any road where the speed limit exceeds 40 mph.
- It should be placed on the roof of the vehicle to be more visible.
- It should be placed at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind the vehicle. (Correct answer)
- It must never be used, as hazard warning lights are sufficient.
Correct answer: It should be placed at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind the vehicle.
The Highway Code, rule 274, states that for a breakdown on a non-motorway road, you should put a warning triangle on the road at least 45 metres (147 feet) behind your broken-down vehicle on the same side of the road.
Question 3: You discover a fire has broken out in the passenger cabin of your bus. After stopping in a safe location, what must be your first and most immediate action?
- Use the onboard fire extinguisher to try and control the blaze.
- Call the fire brigade using your mobile phone.
- Safely and calmly evacuate all passengers from the vehicle. (Correct answer)
- Retrieve the first aid kit in case of injuries.
Correct answer: Safely and calmly evacuate all passengers from the vehicle.
In any fire situation involving a PCV, the overriding priority is the safety of the passengers. The first action must always be to evacuate everyone to a safe place, well away from the vehicle, before any other action is taken.
Question 4: Following a road traffic collision, a police officer asks you to produce your certificate of motor insurance, but you do not have it with you. What is the legal requirement in this situation?
- You must have the document faxed to the roadside immediately.
- You will be given a form (HORT/1) and must produce it at a police station within 7 days. (Correct answer)
- You will receive an immediate fixed penalty notice for failing to carry the document.
- Your PCV operator will be called and must confirm insurance details over the phone.
Correct answer: You will be given a form (HORT/1) and must produce it at a police station within 7 days.
Under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, if you cannot produce documents like your insurance certificate at the roadside, a police officer will issue a form (often called a 'producer' or HORT/1) requiring you to present them at a nominated police station within 7 days.
Question 5: Your coach breaks down inside a well-lit road tunnel where there is no fire. After stopping and activating your hazard lights, what is the correct advice to give to your passengers?
- Evacuate immediately via the nearest emergency exit.
- Remain on the vehicle with their seatbelts on and await instructions. (Correct answer)
- Move to the front of the coach to be ready to disembark.
- Open all windows and roof vents to ensure good ventilation.
Correct answer: Remain on the vehicle with their seatbelts on and await instructions.
In the event of a breakdown in a tunnel without a fire, official advice is for everyone to remain in the vehicle. This is because the enclosed environment presents significant dangers from traffic and fumes. You should switch off the engine and await rescue services. Evacuation is only for a fire emergency.
Question 6: You are involved in a collision that results in damage to another vehicle. Under the Road Traffic Act, which three pieces of information are you legally required to exchange with the other driver at the scene?
- Your name, your telephone number, and your driving licence number.
- Your name, your address, and the vehicle registration number. (Correct answer)
- Your vehicle registration number, your insurance company, and your date of birth.
- Your address, your PCV operator's name, and your journey's destination.
Correct answer: Your name, your address, and the vehicle registration number.
Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires a driver involved in a reportable collision to provide their name and address, the vehicle owner's name and address (if different), and the vehicle's registration number to anyone having reasonable grounds for requiring them.
UK PCV Theory Accident and Breakdown Procedures Questions and Answers
Your coach suffers a sudden breakdown on a 'smart' motorway which has no hard shoulder.
What is your primary objective?