Bring the school bus to a full stop with the front bumper at least 10 feet away from students at the designated stop. This forces the students to walk to the bus so you have a better view of their movements.
Place transmission in “Park” (if there is no “Park” shift point, place in “Neutral” and set the parking brake at each stop.
Activate alternating red lights when traffic is a safe distance from the school bus and ensure stop arm is extended.
Make a final check to see that all traffic has stopped before completely opening the door and signaling students to approach.
When approaching a bus stop in a school bus you should:
Continuously check mirrors to monitor the danger zones for students, traffic and other objects.
All these are correct
Look for pedestrians, traffic or other objects before, during and after coming to a stop.
If the school bus is so equipped, activate alternating flashing amber warning lights at least 200 feet (100 in an urban area) or approximately five to 10 seconds before the school bus stop or in accordance with state law.
Look for pedestrians, traffic or other objects before, during and after coming to a stop.
Continuously check all mirrors.
If the school bus is so equipped, activate alternating flashing amber warning lights at least 200 feet (100 in an urban area) or approximately five to 10 seconds before the school bus stop or in accordance with state law.
Turn on right-turn signal indicator about 100-300 feet or approximately three to five seconds before pulling over.
Continuously check mirrors to monitor the danger zones for students, traffic and other objects.
Move as far as possible to the right on the traveled portion of the roadway.
If there is a serious behavior problem on the bus, which of the following is NOT the proper way to handle it?
Put the student off the bus immediately, regardless of location along the route.
Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender or offenders. Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice. Remind the offender of the expected behavior. Do not show anger but do show that you mean business.
Stop the bus. Park in a safe location off the road, perhaps a parking lot or a driveway.
If a change of seating is needed, request that the student move to a seat near you.
Follow your school’s procedures for discipline or refusal of rights to ride the bus.
Stop the bus. Park in a safe location off the road, perhaps a parking lot or a driveway.
Secure the bus. Take the ignition key with you if you leave your seat.
Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender or offenders. Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice. Remind the offender of the expected behavior. Do not show anger but do show that you mean business.
If a change of seating is needed, request that the student move to a seat near you.
Never put a student off the bus except at school or at his or her designated school bus stop. If you believe that the offense is serious enough that you cannot safely drive the bus, call for a school administrator or the police to come and remove the student. Always follow your state or local procedures for requesting assistance.
Look for pedestrians, traffic or other objects before, during and after coming to a stop.
Continuously check all mirrors.
If the school bus is so equipped, activate alternating flashing amber warning lights at least 200 feet (100 in an urban area) or approximately five to 10 seconds before the school bus stop or in accordance with state law.
Turn on right-turn signal indicator about 100-300 feet or approximately three to five seconds before pulling over.
Continuously check mirrors to monitor the danger zones for students, traffic and other objects.
Move as far as possible to the right on the traveled portion of the roadway.
Which of the following DOES NOT describe the left and right side crossover mirrors on a bus?
They are used to see the front bumper “danger zone” area directly in front of the bus that is not visible by direct vision, and to view the “danger zone” area to the left side and right side of the bus, including the service door and front wheel area.
They are used to view the “danger zone” area behind the bus, including the rear door
These mirrors are mounted on both left and right front corners of the bus
The mirror presents a view of people and objects that does not accurately reflect their size and distance from the bus
10.1.5 – Outside Left and Right Side Crossover Mirrors
These mirrors are mounted on both left and right front corners of the bus. They are used to see the front bumper “danger zone” area directly in front of the bus that is not visible by direct vision, and to view the “danger zone” area to the left side and right side of the bus, including the service door and front wheel area. The mirror presents a view of people and objects that does not accurately reflect their size and distance from the bus. The driver must ensure that these mirrors are properly adjusted.
If no radio or the radio is inoperable, dispatch a passing motorist or area resident to call for help. As a last resort, dispatch two older, responsible students to go for help.
The School Bus CDL Exam is required if you want to get a school bus or charter bus endorsement. It is not required for getting a Class A CDL to drive a big rig. Bus drivers must have a commercial driver's license if they drive a vehicle designed to seat 16 or more persons, including the driver.
Bus drivers must have a passenger endorsement on their commercial driver license. To obtain the endorsement, you must pass a knowledge test on the Safe Driving and =convertURLCategoryName($category, "display");?> (this section) portions of the CDL manual. If your bus has air brakes, you must also pass a knowledge test on air brakes. You must also pass the skills/drive tests required for the class and type of passenger vehicle you plan to drive.
This section covers:
Vehicle Inspection
Loading
On the Road
After-trip Vehicle Inspection
Prohibited Practices
Use of Brake-door Interlocks
Vehicle Inspection
Before driving your bus, make sure it is safe. You must review the inspection report made by the previous driver. Only if defects reported earlier have been certified as repaired or not needed to be repaired, should you sign the previous driver's report. This is your certification that the defects reported earlier have been repaired.
Make sure the following are in good working order before driving:
Service brakes, including air hose couplings (if your bus has a trailer or semitrailer).
Parking brake.
Steering mechanism.
Lights and reflectors.
Tires (front wheels must not have re-capped or re-grooved tires).
Horn.
Windshield wiper or wipers.
Rear-vision mirror or mirrors.
Coupling devices (if present).
Wheels and rims.
Emergency equipment
Loading And Trip Start
Do not allow riders to leave carry-on baggage in a doorway or aisle. There should be nothing in the aisle that might trip other riders. Secure baggage and freight in ways that avoid damage and:
Allow the driver to move freely and easily.
Allow riders to exit by any window or door in an emergency.
Protect riders from injury if carry-ons fall or shift.
Forbidden Hazardous Materials
Buses may carry small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D, emergency hospital supplies and drugs. You can carry small amounts of some other hazardous materials if the shipper cannot send them any other way. Buses must never carry:
Explosives in the space occupied by people, except small-arms ammunition.
Labeled radioactive materials in the space occupied by people.
More than 500 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials and no more than 100 pounds of any one class.
Riders sometimes board a bus with an unlabeled hazardous material. Do not allow riders to carry on common hazards such as car batteries or gasoline. See Section 2 and Section 9 for additional information on hazardous materials.
Common Bus Accidents
Accidents In Intersections:
The Most Common Bus Accidents: Bus accidents often happen at intersections. Use caution, even if a signal or stop sign controls other traffic. School and mass transit buses sometimes scrape off mirrors or hit passing vehicles when pulling out from a bus stop. Remember the clearance your bus needs and watch for poles and tree limbs at stops. Know the size of the gap your bus needs to accelerate and merge with traffic. Wait for the gap to open before leaving the stop. Never assume other drivers will brake to give you room when you signal or start to pull out.
Speed In Curves
Accidents on curves result from excessive speed, often when rain or snow has made the road slippery. Every banked curve has a safe "design speed." In good weather, the posted speed is safe for cars but it may be too high for many buses. With good traction, the bus may roll over; with poor traction, it might slide off the curve. Reduce speed for curves. If your bus leans toward the outside on a banked curve, you are driving too fast.
Railroad Crossings
Bus drivers must stop at railroad crossings:
Stop your bus between 15 and 50 feet before railroad crossings.
Listen and look in both directions for trains. You should open your forward door if it improves your ability to see or hear an approaching train.
Before crossing after a train has passed, make sure there is not another train coming in the other direction on other tracks.
If your bus has a manual transmission, never change gears while crossing the tracks.
You do not have to stop, but must slow down and carefully check for other vehicles:
- At streetcar crossings.
- Where a policeman or flagman is directing traffic.
- If a traffic signal is green.
- At crossings marked as "exempt" or "abandoned.
Prohibited Practices
Avoid fueling your bus with riders on board unless absolutely necessary. Never refuel in a closed building with riders on board.
Do not talk with riders or engage in any other distracting activity while driving.
Do not tow or push a disabled bus with riders aboard the vehicle, unless getting off would be unsafe. Only tow or push the bus to the nearest safe spot to discharge passengers. Follow your employer's guidelines on towing or pushing disabled buses.
Questions You Should Know For The =convertURLCategoryName($category, "display");?> Exam
1. Name some things to check in the interior of a bus during a pre-trip inspection.
2. What are some hazardous materials you can transport by bus?
3. What are some hazardous materials you cannot transport by bus?
4. What is a standee line?
5. Does it matter where you make a disruptive passenger get off the bus?
6. How far from a railroad crossing should you stop?
7. When must you stop before crossing a drawbridge?
8. Describe from memory the “prohibited practices” listed in the manual.
9. The rear door of a transit bus has to be open to put on the parking brake. True or False?