PCV The Driver – All Questions

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When someone ahead of you switches on their hazard warning lights, it means that they’ve spotted a hazard that you may not be able to see yet. Slow down and be ready to stop if necessary.

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Driving in heavy traffic needs 100% concentration. If you become lost, find a safe place to stop before checking a map or asking for directions. Don’t risk losing concentration by glancing at a map while driving, even if you’re in traffic that keeps stopping.

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In shopping areas, pedestrians frequently want to cross the road. They may be hidden by parked vehicles before stepping out into your path. Keep your speed down and be aware of the risk of pedestrians suddenly walking into the road.

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The hiss of air-assisted mechanisms, as well as engine noise, can easily startle horses. Keep the noise to a minimum by gentle use of the brakes and, if necessary, stopping and turning your engine off.

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Animals can be very unpredictable. You should give them as much room as you can, keep your speed and noise to a minimum to avoid panicking them, and always be ready to stop if necessary.

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When you drive too close to the kerb, there’s a risk that your nearside mirror could strike the head of a pedestrian. Be aware of this hazard and, if you see pedestrians close to the road, make sure you leave them enough room.

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An illness that could affect you while you’re driving, such as a heart condition, may make it unsafe for you to drive. You must tell DVLA if you develop any serious illness or disability that’s likely to last more than three months and that could affect your driving. Partial blindness and mental disorders can also prevent you from getting a driving licence for large vehicles.

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Being seated properly is very important when driving long distances. A poor driving position can quickly cause fatigue. You should make sure that you can reach all the controls comfortably.

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Your head restraint should be adjusted so that, in the event of a collision, it protects your neck from whiplash injury.

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You can legally remove your seat belt when carrying out a manoeuvre that involves reversing. Don’t forget to put it back on again when you’ve finished.

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There are times when other road users make incorrect or ill-judged decisions. Try to stay calm and don’t retaliate or react aggressively, especially as your vehicle is likely to be larger and more intimidating than the other person’s. Always put safety first.

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The effect of your vehicle driving through a puddle will be to throw water onto the pavement. If there are pedestrians close by, they could be splashed with the water. Be considerate and, if it’s safe to do so, avoid driving through the puddle.

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A long lorry with a heavy load will need more time to pass you than a car. It won’t be able to accelerate enough to pass you quickly, especially on an uphill stretch of road. Be considerate to the lorry driver – ease off the accelerator and allow the lorry to pass.

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Don’t frustrate other road users by driving for long distances with a queue of traffic behind you. This could cause them to lose concentration and overtake in an unsafe way. Stop where it’s safe and let them pass.

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Only use your horn to warn people of your presence when they may not have seen you. Don’t use it to greet others, to show impatience, or to give or claim priority. Your horn mustn’t be used between 11.30 pm and 7.00 am in a built-up area, or when your vehicle is stationary, unless another vehicle poses a danger.

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Learner drivers are often nervous. If you stay well back, this will reduce the risk of incidents occurring if they make a mistake, and you won’t intimidate them. Remember, you were once in that situation yourself.

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If a police officer signals for you to stop, stop as soon as possible in a safe place on the left.

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When a police officer is following you and wants you to stop, they’ll flash the vehicle’s headlights and signal with the left indicator. You should stop in a safe place as soon as possible.

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Telephone calls can distract you, meaning that you’re not in proper control of your vehicle. If you need to use a telephone when driving, find a safe place to stop first. Better still, use a phone answering service and listen to your messages at the end of your journey.

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It’s illegal to use a hand-held phone while driving. When you’ve stopped in a safe place, you can concentrate on your call or message. Using a phone while driving means you won’t have full control of your vehicle. This could result in a collision, with serious or even fatal consequences.

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A pelican crossing that goes straight across the road must be treated as one continuous crossing even if it has a central island. The lights controlling the crossing show to both directions of traffic. You must give way to pedestrians who are still crossing when the amber light is flashing.

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Pedestrians use push-button controls to activate the signals. Pelican crossings have no red-and-amber stage before green. Instead, they have a flashing amber light. This means you must give way to pedestrians on the crossing, but you may proceed if the crossing is clear.

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When traffic is heavy, plan well ahead so that you don’t block crossings. Leave them clear so that pedestrians can cross safely.

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When you’re being overtaken, the other driver has to decide when it’s safe to complete the manoeuvre. Don’t give an unofficial signal, however well intended. There may be a hazard you’re unable to see from your position.

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When an ambulance is displaying a flashing blue light, try to stop in a safe place to allow it to pass. Make sure you don’t endanger any other road users or commit an offence; for example, by driving past a red traffic light.

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If you see a vehicle with a green flashing light, it will be a doctor on an emergency call, so give way by pulling over and letting the vehicle pass. But don’t just stop suddenly – choose a safe place as soon as you can to let the doctor’s car pass safely.

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A green flashing light on a vehicle means the driver or passenger is a doctor on an emergency call. Give way to them if it’s safe to do so. Be aware that the vehicle may be travelling quickly or may stop suddenly.

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If you stop for pedestrians and they don’t start to cross, be patient. Don’t wave them across or sound your horn. This could be dangerous if the driver of an approaching vehicle isn’t aware of them. The driver may not have seen or heard your signal, making it very dangerous for the pedestrians to start to cross.

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You should always try to stop, if it’s safe, for people waiting at pedestrian crossings. However, avoid waving them to cross. Another driver may not have seen them, may not have seen your signal or may not be able to stop safely.

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When you need to drive close to the kerb, be aware of the dangers.

• Pedestrians may step off the kerb.

• The nearside mirror may be at a pedestrian’s head height.

• Cyclists may be tempted to pass you on your left if you’re driving slowly in congested conditions.

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Don’t park where you would endanger or inconvenience others. If your choice of parking place obstructs drivers, riders or pedestrians, move to a more suitable area.

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It’s important to know what’s happening behind as well as ahead. Your mirrors must always be clean and properly adjusted.

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As you approach the children, consider whether you need to sound the horn as a warning. Always check your nearside mirror as you pass any hazards on the left, so that you know when your vehicle is clear of the hazard.

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Don’t try to enforce the speed limit by blocking another vehicle’s progress. This is likely to cause the other driver to become more frustrated. Slow down or move over when it’s safe and allow the other vehicle to pass.

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Plan ahead and learn to anticipate hazards. Give yourself more time to react to any problems that might occur – such as a vehicle pulling out unexpectedly. Be tolerant of other road users who don’t behave correctly. Don’t react by flashing your lights, sounding your horn or making gestures, as any show of aggression on the road can quickly lead to a serious incident.

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Alcohol can increase confidence to a point where a driver’s behaviour might become ‘out of character’: someone who normally behaves sensibly suddenly takes risks and enjoys it. Never let yourself or your friends get into this situation.

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Tiredness can seriously affect your concentration – even to the point of falling asleep. You always need to be alert so that you can safely deal with the constantly changing environment around your vehicle.

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Concentration and good judgement are needed to be a good, safe driver. You’re strongly advised not to drink any alcohol before driving. Alcohol can stay in your system for 24-48 hours, so you should also consider your intake the day and night before driving.

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If you’ve been convicted of drink- or drug-driving, statistically you’re a risk to yourself and others on the road. For this reason, when you’re able to drive again, insurance companies may charge you a high premium to insure your vehicle.

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Drinking black coffee or waiting a few hours won’t make any difference. Alcohol takes time to leave the body, so you should find a way to get home without using your vehicle; for example, by public transport. Depending on how much you’ve had to drink, you may even be unfit to drive the following morning.

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Avoiding alcohol will always be the safest option. There are many factors that influence how alcohol will affect you, such as height, weight and gender. It’s better not to risk a single alcoholic drink before you drive.

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Alcohol can take a long time to leave the body. You may feel all right to drive, but its effect will last for many hours.

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Some medicines can have side-effects that affect your driving. Ask your doctor whether you’ll be safe to drive while taking the medicine that’s been prescribed.

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Take care; it’s not worth taking risks. Always check with your doctor to be absolutely sure. The medicine may have an effect on you later in the day and for longer than you think.

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If you’re taking medicine or drugs prescribed by your doctor, check that they won’t affect your driving. If you forget to ask when you visit the surgery, check with your pharmacist.

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Never drive after taking drugs you don’t know about. They might affect your judgement and perception – and, therefore, endanger lives.

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If you feel the onset of tiredness, you need to take a break. This might be at a motorway service station, but if there isn’t one nearby you’ll need to leave at the next exit and find a safe place to stop and rest.

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All your concentration should be on your driving; any pain you feel will distract you. Be safe and wait until you’re fit before starting your journey.

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If you’re travelling on a long journey, plan your route before you leave. This will help you to • be decisive at intersections and junctions

• plan your rest stops

• know approximately how long the journey will take.

Make sure that the vehicle you’re travelling in is well ventilated. A warm, stuffy atmosphere can make you drowsy, which will impair your judgement and perception.

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Try to avoid becoming tired by taking plenty of rest stops and allowing fresh air into your vehicle.

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Check all medicines for their side-effects, such as drowsiness. If you’re unsure, ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain how you might be affected by the medication.

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Don’t continue to drive if you feel the onset of tiredness. Find a safe place to stop for a rest. Walking around in the fresh air during your break will help but it’s no substitute for adequate rest.

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The smallest lapse in concentration can result in loss of control. Even when your tachograph would allow you to drive for longer, stop somewhere safe and rest if you feel your driving may be affected by your tiredness.

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Misuse of drugs and/or alcohol may lead to the withdrawal of your driving licence. Future insurance premiums will probably increase as well.

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A front tyre bursting will seriously reduce your control of the vehicle. Keep calm and resist the temptation to brake hard or swerve. Hold the steering wheel firmly and try to get the vehicle onto the hard shoulder while allowing it to slow down gradually. Stop as far to the left as possible and switch on your hazard warning lights.

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On a motorway, it’s best to use a roadside emergency telephone so that the emergency services are able to locate you easily.

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Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal. It will distract you from your driving because your attention is split between the phone call and your driving.

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It’s illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while you’re driving, other than to call 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency. Switch it off before you start driving and use the messaging facility. You can pick up messages when you stop for a rest break. If you must make a call, stop in a safe place before using the phone.

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It’s illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while you’re driving. Park in a suitable place before receiving or making a call or text.

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Driving today requires all of your attention, all of the time. Any distraction, however brief, is dangerous. This is why it’s illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while you’re driving.

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In an emergency, time can be of the essence. The emergency services need to know your exact location. Before you phone, get the post number from the nearest marker post on the edge of the hard shoulder. Give this to the emergency services, as it will help them to locate you.

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No phone call is important enough to endanger someone’s life. If you must be contactable when driving, plan your route to include breaks where you can catch up on telephone messages in safety. Always choose a safe place to take a break.

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Never presume what someone means when they flash their headlights, as they might be signalling to someone else. Use your own judgement and wait until it’s safe to complete your manoeuvre.

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Give way to buses whenever you can do so safely, especially when they signal to pull away from bus stops. Look out for people who have left the bus and wish to cross the road. Also look for people rushing to catch a bus: they may be more concerned about catching the bus than watching for traffic.

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Elderly pedestrians can be hesitant and may move slowly when crossing the road. Also, their awareness of traffic may be limited because of hearing or visual impairment. Be patient and show courtesy and understanding.

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Drivers queuing behind you may make hasty or ill-judged decisions in an effort to overtake. If you see a queue of traffic building up behind, give way as soon as you can do so safely by pulling in to the left.

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While you’re using a phone, your attention will be divided between the call and the road. This means you’re unable to take in all that’s happening around your vehicle. You need to be concentrating on your driving all of the time, and especially when dealing with a hazard.

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Plan your journey and take breaks to keep in touch if necessary. When driving on motorways, you can’t just stop to use your mobile phone. You’ll need to turn off the motorway or wait until you reach the next service area. Avoid being distracted by switching your phone off while you’re driving; use the message facility to listen to any calls when you’ve parked safely.

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Drinking alcohol will reduce your ability to drive safely. One drink is too many if you’re going to drive.

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Drivers passing incidents often end up having collisions themselves when they’re distracted by the scene. You need to keep your concentration in a situation like this and ignore what’s happening on the other carriageway.

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Power-assisted steering operates when the engine is running. If a fault develops, much greater effort is required to turn the steering wheel. Don’t attempt to drive a vehicle if you’re aware of a fault in the power-steering system.

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Sometimes other road users disobey the rules or make errors of judgement. Try to accept this calmly and learn from their mistakes.

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Tiredness may make you more irritable than you would be normally. You might react differently to situations because of it. If you feel yourself becoming tense, take a break.

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Sometimes other drivers or riders make a mistake. If this happens, try not to let it worry you. Don’t react by sounding the horn, flashing your headlights or shouting at the other driver; it won’t help the situation. A professional driver will remain calm and stay focused on their driving.

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Traffic queues on the motorway are fairly common, often due to the volume of traffic at peak times or to incidents. If you see a queue of stationary traffic ahead, switch on your hazard warning lights for a short while to warn those behind you of a hazard ahead.

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When turning right onto a dual carriageway, don’t stop in the gap in the central reservation unless your vehicle will fit in the gap without any overhang. When it’s busy, consider turning left and using a roundabout further up the road so you don’t have to cross the central reservation.

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Plan well ahead and take care if you need to move out or straddle lanes due to the length of your vehicle. Other road users may not understand your reasons for doing this and may try to pass on your left. Check your mirrors before and as you turn. It’s better to use extra space on the road you’re leaving than to find there’s not enough room when you turn in.

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Always allow plenty of time for your journey, in case of unforeseen problems such as punctures, breakdowns, road closures or diversions. You’ll feel less stressed and less inclined to take risks if you’re not under time pressure.

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Being as healthy and alert as possible will make you safer on the road. Take regular meal and rest breaks, and keep to foods that contain complex carbohydrates, such as bread and vegetables. These release energy slowly and will keep you satisfied for longer than foods with a high sugar content.

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Water is the ideal drink, because it quenches your thirst for longer than tea or coffee. It’s a good idea to carry water when you’re driving, especially in very hot weather. The medical profession recommends that you drink 1.5 to 2 litres of water per day.

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Concentration will be improved by eating regular, light meals timed to fit in with your scheduled rest periods. If you don’t eat at all, your blood sugar levels will drop and you’ll feel tired. If you just eat snack foods, most of which are sugary or high in fat, your energy levels will peak and then drop – and eating while you’re driving is a dangerous distraction.

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There’s a particular risk when driving between midnight and 6 am. This is when the ‘body clock’ is programmed for sleep in most people. There’s another, smaller, dip between 2 pm and 4 pm. If you feel that tiredness is affecting your ability to drive, stop in a safe place and rest.

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Research shows that approximately 40% of SRVIs involve commercial vehicles. The consequences are usually very serious because of the size of the vehicle and the fact that there is no braking before the impact.

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A poor diet can increase your risk of ill health. It may cause obesity, diabetes or heart disease, which can increase your risk of sudden incapacity at the wheel. There’s a greater risk of developing a serious illness – and ultimately an early death. Smoking and a lack of exercise will increase the risks.

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The only effective solution to driver sleepiness is to stop in a safe place and take a break.

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Driving at a constant speed for long periods, such as on a motorway, can cause drowsiness. Falling asleep while driving accounts for a significant proportion of vehicle incidents. You should plan and take regular rest stops, but if you feel the onset of tiredness between these breaks, stop and rest in a safe place.

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SRVIs are more evident in young male drivers, who tend to ignore or deny how they’re feeling. The greatest risk is between the hours of midnight and 6.00 am, when the body clock is in a trough. Make sure you take sufficient rest breaks and don’t ignore feeling sleepy.

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With a front-tyre blow-out, you won’t be able to steer properly. Keep a firm hold of the steering wheel and slow gradually to a stop. Don’t brake hard or steer sharply.

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When seat belts are fitted to your vehicle, they must be worn unless you hold a valid medical exemption certificate. People making deliveries or collections in goods vehicles are also exempt, when they’re travelling less than 50 metres (162 feet).

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A significant number of sleep-related vehicle incidents involve commercial vehicles. There’s a particular risk when driving between midnight and 6.00 am, because this is when the body clock craves sleep. It’s important to take proper rest before, during and between driving duties.

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If you’re in a collision, a properly adjusted head restraint can help to reduce the risk of neck injury. However, an incorrectly adjusted head restraint could worsen any damage to your neck.

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If your vehicle is fitted with a seat belt, you must wear it unless you’re exempt for medical reasons. You may also remove it before a reverse manoeuvre. If the fitting of the belt is uncomfortable and it prevents you from obtaining a safe driving position, report this to your employer.

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Make sure that your vehicle displays all the information required by law (the ‘legal lettering’): the seating/standing capacity and the locations of the emergency exit, fuel cut-off switch and electrical isolator.

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Use your nearside mirror when you’ve overtaken another vehicle. This is particularly important on dual carriageways or motorways, where it can take some distance to overtake safely. Look carefully to make sure you’re far enough ahead and can safely return to the left lane.

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Blocking other vehicles’ access to side roads is inconsiderate and can cause congestion. You should look at the flow of traffic and be aware of junctions when you’re slowing down or stopping.