Route Planning and Road Safety

This chapter examines the importance of safety in transport and covers the legal requirement under the tachograph regulations for driving hours and rest periods. It also examines the requirements for route planning especially when undertaking an international journey, including country profiles, access to ports and the main routes used from Ireland to Europe.

The CPC Examination

The Examination comprises two papers, a morning and afternoon paper. Each paper is 2.5 hours duration. There are a total of 23 questions per paper. The candidate must receive an overall pass mark of 60%. There is also an additional requirement of having to achieve a minimum of 50% in each paper.

Special Note: A special provision exists for candidates who fail to achieve the overall 60% requirement, but who achieves 60% or over in either Paper One or Paper Two and who also achieves a minimum 50% in the other paper. Such candidates will be required to resit the failed paper only, provided the failed paper exceeds the 50% minimum requirement.

(This provision applies to the next available examination date only). Where a candidate fails to avail of this option or fails to achieve a 60% minimum in the resit paper he/she will be required to resit the full examination (both morning and afternoon papers) at their next attempt.

Examination Marking System

Paper One Pass mark is 60% (240 marks)

• 8 multiple choice questions x 5 mark = 40 marks
• 13 short questions x 20 mark = 260 marks
• 2 essay type questions x 50 mark = 100 marks
  
  (one of which is compulsory) Total 400 marks

Paper Two Pass mark is 60% (240 marks)

• 8 multiple choice questions x 5 mark = 40 marks
• 13 short questions x 20 mark = 260 marks
• 2 essay type questions x 50 mark = 100 marks
  
  (one of which is compulsory) Total 400 marks

All students achieving 55%-59% will be automatically rechecked. There is also an appeal system in place, where on payment of €45, the paper will be will be rechecked by an external examiner.

Examination Format

Morning Paper

The morning paper will be based on the following subjects:

• Setting up a Business
• Access to the Market
• Operations Management
• Financial Management

The question format is as follows:

• 8 multiple choice questions, 13 short questions and 2 (50 mark) questions one of which will be compulsory

Afternoon Paper

The afternoon paper will be based on the following subjects:

• Technical Standards
• Civil, Commercial & Social Law
• Conventions Documentation
• Route Planning & Road Safety

The question format is as follows:

8 multiple choice questions, 13 short questions and 2 (50 mark) questions one of which will be compulsory.