Drivers' Hours, Tachograph & Rest

Under EU/retained drivers' hours rules, what is the maximum period you may drive before you must take a break?

• ASix hours, after which you must take a break of at least 30 minutes
• BFive and a half hours, after which you must take a break of 20 minutes
• CFour and a half hours, after which you must take a break of at least 45 minutes✓
• DFour hours, after which a short break is recommended but not required

Answer: The rules require a break of at least 45 minutes after no more than 4.5 hours of driving, though this can be split into a 15-minute then a 30-minute break in that order. The other limits do not match the regulations.

What is the main purpose of the tachograph fitted to your bus or coach?

• ATo record driving time, other work, breaks and rest so hours can be checked✓
• BTo record the number of passengers who board at each stop on the route
• CTo limit the vehicle's top speed automatically whenever you are running behind schedule
• DTo log the fuel used so the operator can calculate the running costs

Answer: The tachograph records driving time, other duties, breaks and rest against distance and speed, so that compliance with the drivers' hours rules can be checked. It does not count passengers, cap speed or measure fuel.

You realise your digital tachograph card is faulty during your shift. What must you do?

• AStop driving immediately and leave the vehicle where it is until repaired
• BCarry on as normal, since a faulty card does not need to be reported
• CBorrow another driver's card to keep an accurate record for the day
• DMake a manual record of your driving and duties and report it as required✓

Answer: If your card is not working you may continue a journey already started while keeping a manual record of your activities, and the fault must be reported and the card replaced within the required time. You must never use another driver's card.

Why are the drivers' hours and rest rules so important for a PCV driver?

• AThey mainly exist to make sure operators can plan neat and tidy timetables
• BThey only matter on long coach tours, not on regular local bus services
• CThey are guidance that drivers can set aside when a service is running late
• DTiredness reduces concentration and reaction time, which endangers passengers✓

Answer: The limits exist to combat driver fatigue, because a tired driver has slower reactions and poorer judgement, putting passengers and other road users at risk. They are legal requirements, not optional guidance to drop when running late.

You are feeling drowsy while driving a service with passengers on board. What is the correct response?

• AStop in a safe place as soon as you can and take a proper break✓
• BOpen the window and speed up a little to get the route finished sooner
• CKeep driving because stopping would break the published timetable
• DTurn the heating up so the warmth helps you feel more alert again

Answer: Fatigue seriously impairs driving, so the safe response is to stop somewhere safe as soon as possible and rest, rather than trying to push on. Fresh air, heat or higher speed do not overcome genuine tiredness.

What must you do before you start driving at the beginning of your shift regarding the tachograph?

• AReset the odometer to zero so the day's distance is easy to read
• BSwitch the tachograph off until you reach the first passenger stop
• CInsert your driver card and enter the required start information correctly✓
• DSet the device to rest mode so that your first break is recorded before you drive

Answer: You insert your driver card and make the correct manual entries (such as your start location) so the record is complete from the beginning of the shift. You do not switch the device off or set it to rest while you are about to drive.

The assimilated (formerly EU) drivers' hours rules apply to passenger vehicles built to carry how many people?

• AMore than twenty, including the driver
• BMore than sixteen, including the driver
• CMore than eight, not counting the driver
• DMore than nine, including the driver✓

Answer: GOV.UK says the assimilated rules apply to most passenger vehicles constructed or permanently adapted to carry more than nine people including the driver.

A driver runs a regular local bus service on a route of 30 km. Which drivers' hours rules normally apply?

• AThe GB domestic rules✓
• BThe AETR rules
• CThe assimilated rules
• DThe working time rules only

Answer: Regular passenger services on routes not exceeding 50 km are exempt from the assimilated rules, so the GB domestic drivers' hours rules normally apply.

Under the GB domestic rules for buses and coaches, what is the maximum driving time in a working day?

• A10 hours✓
• B12 hours
• C9 hours
• D11 hours

Answer: GOV.UK says that under the domestic rules you must not drive a bus or coach for more than 10 hours in any working day.

Under the GB domestic rules for buses and coaches, what is the maximum time between starting and finishing work in a working day?

• A15 hours
• B16 hours✓
• C11 hours
• D13 hours

Answer: Under the domestic rules you must not work more than 16 hours between the times of starting and finishing work.

Under the GB domestic rules for buses, when must a driver take a break of at least 30 minutes?

• AAfter 5 hours 30 minutes of driving✓
• BAfter 6 hours of duty, driving or not
• CAfter 3 hours of driving in a town
• DAfter 4 hours 30 minutes of driving

Answer: The domestic rules require a break of at least 30 minutes after 5.5 hours of driving, with an alternative pattern allowed for longer working days.

Under the GB domestic rules for buses, what is the minimum rest between working days?

• A12 hours, which cannot be reduced in any week
• B10 hours, which can be cut to 8.5 hours up to three times a week✓
• C11 hours, which can be cut to 9 hours up to three times a week
• D8 hours, which can be cut to 6 hours up to twice in any fixed week

Answer: GOV.UK says domestic bus drivers need at least 10 hours' rest between working days, which can be reduced to 8.5 hours up to three times a week.

Under the GB domestic rules for buses and coaches, how often must a driver take at least 24 hours off duty?

• AEvery 6 days
• BEvery 2 weeks✓
• CEvery 4 weeks
• DEvery week

Answer: The domestic rules require at least one period of 24 hours off duty every two weeks.

What is the '12-day derogation' for coach drivers?

• AKeeping tachograph records for 12 days instead of 28 on local services
• BDriving up to 12 hours a day for 12 days during the summer holiday season
• CPostponing weekly rest for up to 12 days on one international trip✓
• DTaking a 12-hour break once in every 12 days worked on regular services

Answer: The derogation lets a coach driver on a single occasional international journey postpone weekly rest for up to 12 consecutive 24-hour periods, subject to conditions such as taking two weekly rests afterwards.

Under the assimilated rules, a coach driver on national work must start a weekly rest no later than the end of how many consecutive 24-hour periods?

• AFive
• BSix✓
• CTwelve
• DSeven

Answer: GOV.UK says the weekly rest must be taken after no more than six consecutive 24-hour periods of work. The 12-period limit applies only under the derogation for international occasional coach trips.

Under the assimilated rules, what is the normal maximum daily driving time for a coach driver?

• A8 hours, extendable to 9 hours twice a week
• B10 hours, extendable to 11 hours once a week
• C9 hours, extendable to 10 hours twice a week✓
• D11 hours, with no extension allowed at all

Answer: Daily driving is limited to 9 hours, which can be extended to 10 hours no more than twice in a fixed week.

Under the assimilated rules, what is the maximum driving time in a fixed week?

• A66 hours
• B56 hours✓
• C48 hours
• D45 hours

Answer: A driver must not drive for more than 56 hours in a fixed week, or 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks.

Your tachograph driver card has been stolen. How long do you have to report it to DVLA and apply for a new one?

• A3 working days
• B15 calendar days
• C7 calendar days✓
• D28 calendar days

Answer: You must report the problem to DVLA and apply for a replacement card within seven calendar days.

You are driving for a few days without your card while a replacement is issued. What records must you make?

• AA handwritten note of mileage only, kept in the cab
• BA printout at the start and at the end of each day✓
• CA printout at the end of each week, signed by you
• DNo record is needed until the new card arrives

Answer: GOV.UK says you may drive without a card for up to 15 calendar days if you produce a printout at the start of the day and another at the end, adding your details.

You spend 20 minutes helping passengers load luggage during a stop. How should this time be recorded?

• AAs driving, as the journey is not over
• BAs rest, as long as the engine is switched off
• CAs a break, as the coach is not moving
• DAs other work, as it cannot count as a break✓

Answer: A break must be used only for rest. Loading luggage is work, so it is recorded as other work and does not count towards the break you need.