Exam and Licensing
Not publishedof exam
test formatlicence categorieslearner permitsDriver CPC
Passenger Safety
Not publishedof exam
bus stopsdoors and beltsaccessibilityemergency care
Road Rules and Hazards
Not publishedof exam
signs and markingsspeed limitsvulnerable userslarge-vehicle handling
Bus Systems and Roadworthiness
Not publishedof exam
walkaround checkstyres and wheelsbraking systemsdefect reporting
Professional Driving Rules
Not publishedof exam
drivers' hourstachographsCPC stageseco-driving
Quick Facts
- Test category
- D Bus Theory Test
- Covered licences
- D, DE, D1, D1E
- Question count
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- Time allowed
- 120 minutes
- Pass mark
- 74 correct answers
- Current fee
- €72; verify live booking
- Certificate validity
- Up to two years
- Test operator
- Prometric for RSA
- CPC relationship
- Driver CPC Step 1
- Official weighting
- Domains not published
Trailer Category Memory
D carries passengers; E adds heavy trailer.
D busD1 minibusE trailer over 750kg
Category D vs D1
Category D
- More than eight passengers
- No eight-metre category cap
Category D1
- Maximum sixteen passengers
- Maximum eight metres
D1 has passenger and length caps
Category D Test Identity
- Category D test
- Covers D, DE, D1, D1E
- Format
- Computer-based multiple choice
- Questions
- 100
- Pass mark
- 74 correct
- Time
- 120 minutes
- Fee
- €72; verify live booking
- Certificate
- Valid up to two years
- Operator
- Prometric on RSA's behalf
- Bus Module Test
- Separate 40-question CPC add-on
- CPC link
- Category D is CPC Step 1
Category D vs DE
Category D
- Bus category
- Trailer maximum 750kg
Category DE
- Bus combination
- Trailer exceeds 750kg
E marks heavier trailer entitlement
Bus Licence Categories
- Category D
- More than eight passenger seats
- Category D1
- Maximum sixteen passengers; eight metres
- Category DE
- D vehicle; trailer exceeds 750kg
- Category D1E
- D1 vehicle; trailer exceeds 750kg
- MAM
- Maximum authorised mass
- Full Category B
- Required before learning Category D
- Category D age
- 24; or 21 with CPC
- Category D1 age
- 21
- Medical standard
- Group 2 medical report
Category D Test vs BMT
Category D test
- 100 questions
- Pass 74; 120 minutes
Bus Module Test
- 40 questions
- Pass 30; 45 minutes
Do not confuse full and add-on
Bus Learner Permit Rules
- Accompaniment
- Same-category licence held two years
- Motorways
- Learner drivers prohibited
- Trailer towing
- D and D1 learners prohibited
- Reward passengers
- Learners cannot carry for reward
- L plates
- Clearly visible front and rear
- First permit
- Normally valid two years
- Group 2 licence
- Maximum five-year duration
- Vehicle status
- Roadworthy, insured, and taxed
Bus Stop Sequence
Stop, secure, scan, serve, close, scan, start.
Stop and secureScan and serveClose and scanStart smoothly
Safe Bus-Stop Sequence
- Approaching stop→Mirror, signal, slow smoothly
- Positioning bus→Protect kerbside users
- Bus fully stopped→Secure before opening
- Passengers moving→Keep bus stationary
- Accessibility equipment needed→Follow approved procedure
- Boarding complete→Check doors and mirrors
- Rejoining traffic→Check blind spots
- Route becomes clear→Move away smoothly
Passenger and Door Safety
- Stop approach
- Slow, smooth, accurately positioned
- Before opening
- Stop and secure bus
- Before moving
- Doors closed and secure
- Seat belts
- Inform passengers when provided
- Standing passengers
- Stay within certified capacity
- Aisles
- Keep clear throughout journey
- Heavy luggage
- Secure in suitable compartment
- Wheelchair equipment
- Secure bus; follow approved procedure
- Passenger illness
- Stop safely; obtain assistance
- Smooth control
- Prevents passenger falls
Roadcraft Sequence
Mirrors, signal, position, speed, final look.
MirrorsSignalPositionSpeedLook
STOP vs Yield
STOP
- Always stop fully
- Proceed only when safe
Yield
- Give way first
- Stop only when needed
STOP requires zero movement
Choose the Legal Bus Speed
- Read road sign→Identify road maximum
- Standing passengers designed→Cap at 65km/h
- Seated bus ordinary road→Cap at 80km/h
- Seated bus motorway→Cap at 100km/h
- Bus towing trailer→Cap at 80km/h
- Limits conflict→Choose lower limit
- Weather reduces grip→Reduce further
- Visibility becomes limited→Stop within visible distance
Junctions, Lanes, and Markings
- STOP sign
- Complete stop required
- Yield sign
- Give way; stop if needed
- Yellow box
- Enter only with clear exit
- Right-turn exception
- May wait inside yellow box
- Amber signal
- Stop unless unsafe
- Bus lane
- Read users and operating times
- Roundabout
- Choose lane early; allow off-tracking
- Left turn
- Check cyclists before crossing path
- Garda signals
- Override traffic signals
Road Limit vs Vehicle Limit
Road limit
- Shown by signs
- Applies to roadway
Vehicle limit
- Depends on bus type
- May be lower
Always obey the lower maximum
Bus and Road Speed Limits
- Standing-passenger bus
- 65km/h maximum all roads
- Seated bus
- 80km/h ordinary-road maximum
- Seated motorway bus
- 100km/h maximum
- Seated dual-carriageway bus
- 100km/h maximum
- Trailer combination
- 80km/h maximum all roads
- Rural local roads
- Many now 60km/h
- Road limit
- Never a target speed
- Conflicting limits
- Obey the lower limit
- Poor conditions
- Reduce below legal maximum
Large-Bus Handling Hazards
- Off-tracking
- Rear wheels cut inward
- Tail swing
- Rear overhang swings outward
- Blind spots
- Mirrors cannot remove every zone
- Reversing
- Avoid; otherwise crawl and observe
- Bends
- Slow before entering
- High centre
- Raises rollover risk
- Crosswinds
- Reduce speed; hold extra space
- Following gap
- Increase with weight and weather
- Low bridge
- Compare sign against actual height
Vulnerable Road User Rules
- Cyclist clearance
- One metre through 50km/h
- Faster-zone clearance
- 1.5 metres above 50km/h
- Unsafe overtake
- Wait behind cyclist
- School area
- Slow; expect sudden children
- Bus-stop pedestrian
- Expect unpredictable movement
- Left-side cyclist
- Never turn across unseen rider
- Pedestrian crossing
- Approach ready to stop
- E-scooter
- Treat as vulnerable road user
Walkaround Scan
Tyres, wheels, lights, mirrors, doors, exits, brakes.
Tyres and wheelsLights and mirrorsDoors and exitsBrakes and leaks
Walkaround vs CVRT
Daily walkaround
- Pre-use defect check
- Driver confirms safety
CVRT
- Periodic roadworthiness test
- Snapshot at test time
CVRT never replaces daily inspection
Pre-Drive Go or No-Go
- Start daily duty→Confirm walkaround completed
- Tyre damage found→Record and report
- Loose-wheel signs appear→Withhold bus
- Brake warning remains→Do not enter service
- Door interlock fails→Do not carry passengers
- Exit is obstructed→Clear before service
- Defect safety unclear→Seek qualified assessment
- All checks pass→Record and begin safely
Daily Bus Walkaround
- Tyre tread
- 1.6mm central three-quarters minimum
- Tyre condition
- No cuts, bulges, exposed cords
- Wheel security
- Check nuts and movement marks
- Air brakes
- Build pressure; heed warnings
- Lights
- Clean, working, and visible
- Mirrors and cameras
- Clean, adjusted, operational
- Service doors
- Controls and interlocks operational
- Emergency exits
- Marked, working, unobstructed
- Fluid leaks
- Investigate and report
- Safety defect
- Record, report, withhold vehicle
- CVRT certificate
- Never replaces daily checks
Driving Break Rule
Four-and-half driving needs forty-five minutes break.
4.5 hours45 minutes15 then 30
Driving Time vs Working Time
Driving time
- Vehicle-driving activity
- EU driving limits apply
Working time
- Includes other duties
- Separate limits apply
Comply with both rule sets
Drivers' Hours Decision Path
- Service is in-scope→Use tachograph correctly
- Starting recorded work→Insert personal card
- Previous activity missing→Make manual entry
- Driving reaches 4.5 hours→Take required break
- Splitting break→Take 15 then 30
- Daily driving reaches nine→Check extension availability
- Weekly total nears 56→Stop before limit
- Roadside inspection occurs→Produce required 56-day record
Drivers' Hours and Tachographs
- Continuous driving
- Maximum 4.5 hours
- Required break
- 45 minutes
- Split break
- 15 minutes then 30
- Daily driving
- Nine hours normally
- Daily extension
- Ten hours twice weekly
- Weekly driving
- Maximum 56 hours
- Two-week driving
- Maximum 90 hours
- Driver card
- Personal; never shared
- Card validity
- Five years
- Roadside records
- Current day plus preceding 56
- Missing activity
- Enter manually before driving
Theory Pass vs Full CPC
Category D pass
- CPC Step 1
- Supports learner permit
Full Driver CPC
- Four qualification steps
- Periodic training continues
Theory alone does not complete CPC
CPC, Emergencies, and Efficiency
- CPC Step 1
- Category D theory test
- CPC Step 2
- Case-study test
- CPC Step 3
- Practical driving test
- CPC Step 4
- Practical walkaround test
- Periodic CPC
- One training day yearly
- Fatigue
- Stop safely; take effective break
- Breakdown
- Warn traffic; protect passengers
- Bus fire
- Stop, evacuate, call emergency services
- Eco-driving
- Observe early; control smoothly
- Idling
- Avoid when safely possible
Common Traps
D Test Is Not BMT
D uses 100 questions ≠ BMT uses 40 questions
Theory Is Not Full CPC
Category D completes Step 1 ≠ Three qualification steps remain
D1 Has Two Caps
Maximum sixteen passengers ≠ Maximum eight metres
Speed Sign May Be Higher
Vehicle limit still applies ≠ Lower maximum always controls
Split Break Order Matters
First break at least 15 ≠ Second break at least 30
Learners Avoid Motorways
Category does not create exception ≠ Full accompanying driver still required
CVRT Is Not Daily Check
Certificate proves periodic test ≠ Driver confirms current roadworthiness
Tachograph Card Is Personal
Never borrow another card ≠ Record all required activity
Last Minute
- 1.Confirm D, DE, D1, D1E coverage
- 2.Know 100-question, 120-minute, 74-pass format
- 3.Verify live €72 booking fee
- 4.Separate Category D from BMT
- 5.Know D1 passenger and length caps
- 6.Remember learner motorway prohibition
- 7.Apply lower road or vehicle limit
- 8.Memorize standing-bus 65km/h cap
- 9.Run complete daily walkaround
- 10.Never drive with safety defects
- 11.Keep doors and exits secure
- 12.Protect cyclists from left turns
- 13.Remember 4.5 then 45
- 14.Split breaks 15 then 30
- 15.Track 56-hour week, 90-hour fortnight
- 16.Treat theory as CPC Step 1
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