In the beginning

Becoming an Omnibus driver back in 1829 was quite easy. You fed your horses, hooked up the wagon and pulled the reins when you wanted to stop. As the service progressed the passengers were given a rope attached to the driver’s arm to draw his attention to the fact that they wanted to get off. Almost glad we have the bell!
 
In the thirties, when the LGOC took control, bus drivers had to go through a very strict training programme. With my self obsessed ‘I can drive perfectly’ ego I know that I wouldn’t have passed my test back then. First of all, stopping without spilling a drop of the water in the glass that the instructors put on the floor would have been too much, and also, I am female, unheard of behind the wheel until the seventies.
 
According to the old school drivers, the test became simple and easy during the late seventies. An attitude of ‘bums on seats’ and the deregulation of LT (London Transport) into LRT (London Regional Transport) gave way to in-house instructors. Drivers were not trained in a professional and safety conscious manner according to some of the people I have spoken to, but rather, they were taught to pass a test. This happens frequently in most industries. When I took my test I was given less than 15 hours in the seat and a copy of the Highway Code. Thankfully things have changed.

123... The steps

1. The minimum age to drive a PSV in the UK is 21. However, some companies will employ people younger because there are a set of rules governing how many miles you can drive in each working day. I was 20 years old when I took and passed my PSV but I wasn't allowed to drive more than 30 miles in one direction. So no long haul coaching for the under 21's. The DVLA site can offer a more in depth and expert view on this. If you're serious, you should research it yourself anyway. www.dvla.gov.uk While you're there, check out the section about penalty points. It's always good know what you can be charged with if you let your guard slip. Click Here.
   
   
2. You must have held your licence for TWO years. Way back when, I had been driving 18 months, but this was 12 years ago. It seems, according to the DVLA site, that you can apply to take any test if you have held your licence for the two year qualifying period. Confused? Try being an operator....!
   
   
3. Eyesight must be a minimum standard. You must be able to read a number plate from a distance of 20.5 metres. This can be with glasses or contacts but you must be able to read it! (reaction sunglasses were not permitted when I took my test. I cannot find the ruling that states this so it could just be a company procedure. However, I would not recommend learning to drive any vehicle using glasses that can have an adverse or limiting effect on your vision.) If you have any condition that could affect your driving you must declare this. If in doubt, spell it out. It is better to be safe than sorry. Remember, these are people you are moving, not cardboard boxes! All of these conditions are covered by the medical form D4.
   
   
4. Once your licence is through get your Theory Test book and start reading! You can never learn too much as a professional driver so start reading the second you get it. When you're ready to take your Theory Test, book it. A list of centres will be here shortly! Also coming soon, the easy way to break up your Theory Test book to make it easier to study.
   
   
5. When you pass that pesky Theory Test, book the practical, but do me a favour, make sure you have had at least 15 hours in the saddle. If your instructor says different take those first few months carefully and cautiously. Experience, my car instructor told me, would be great in pill form so that they could give it to us with a glass of water but it isn't. Like driving anything, you will learn to drive when you pass your test.
   
   IMPORTANT NOTE - IF YOU LOSE YOUR CAR LICENCE YOU WILL LOSE YOUR PSV! IF YOU GET POINTS ON YOUR CAR LICENCE THIS CAN AND WILL AFFECT YOUR PSV SO BE CAREFUL!!!

Helpful Resources

Good books to read are the obvious – ‘Official Theory Test fir Drivers of Large Vehicles’ and another great read is ‘The Official Bus and Coach Driving Manual’. You should always look to update your Highway Code but that’s another good book to assist with your training.

The "Related links" (right hand column) take you to the THREE main places you need to go should you want to take your PSV. All that is left for me to say is Good Luck! And may god have mercy on your nerves!
 
Any questions you may have on this issue, please feel free to email me and I will try my best to answer it, or direct you to the right place.

Amanda PSVDrivers.COM