AZ CDL School Bus cheat sheet

Total stopping distance equals perception distance plus reaction distance plus braking distance; perception and reaction together typically cover about 3/4 second of travel at highway speed.

Following distance rule for a school bus: keep at least one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds under 40 mph, and add one extra second above 40 mph.

A 40-foot bus at 40 mph needs about 4 seconds of following distance; the same bus at 50 mph needs about 5 seconds.

Perception distance is the distance traveled from seeing a hazard until the brain recognizes it; reaction distance is travel during the time the foot moves to the brake.

Braking distance grows with the square of speed: doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance, so 60 mph needs about four times the braking distance of 30 mph.

Use the pivot point method for turns: the rear wheels track inside the front wheels, so swing wide before a turn and watch the rear axle in the mirrors.

Before backing, walk around the bus to check for children and obstacles, use mirrors and a spotter, and back slowly; if unsure, get out and look again.

On slippery roads, reduce speed, brake gently and early, and increase following distance; skids are corrected by removing the cause rather than by hard braking.

At railroad crossings, stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail when required, turn off noisy devices, open the door if needed to listen, and cross without shifting gears.

Before loading, check that the bus is stopped with the parking brake set, the transmission is in neutral or park, and the door is opened only when students are clear of traffic.

Standing passengers are prohibited on a school bus; every rider must be seated while the bus is moving.

Bus capacity is limited by the number of seats and by the manufacturer's rated capacity; never exceed the rated passenger capacity, counting three small students per bench seat only where allowed.

Passenger stops must be made at designated stops only; stopping elsewhere requires authorization and a safe, visible location off the traveled roadway.

The driver must account for every passenger at each stop; use a seating chart or assigned seats when the route requires it.

Students may leave the bus only at their assigned stop or when released to an authorized adult; never release a young student at an unsupervised location.

Emergency doors, windows, and roof hatches must be kept unobstructed and checked for operation during the pre-trip inspection.

The driver is responsible for passenger safety during the entire trip, including stops, and must not leave the bus with passengers aboard unless evacuation is required.

A pre-trip inspection covers six areas: engine compartment, lights and mirrors, brakes and suspension, tires and wheels, emergency equipment, and interior seating and exits.

Check tire tread depth, inflation, and sidewall condition; reject any tire with cuts, bulges, or cord showing.

Test the service brake, parking brake, and emergency brake before departure; the parking brake must hold the bus on a grade.

Verify that all required emergency equipment is present and working: fire extinguisher, first aid kit, emergency triangles, and a seat belt cutter where required.

Check that stop arms, crossing gates, and warning lights deploy and retract fully, and that the red lights flash only when the door is open or the switch is engaged.

Mirrors must be adjusted so the driver can see the rear tires, the door area, and the danger zone around the bus before moving.

Report any defect that affects safety to the dispatcher before operating the bus; a bus with a safety defect is placed out of service.

Post-trip inspection: walk the bus, check for sleeping or left-behind students, secure the bus, and complete the written report.

Use the eight-light warning system: amber lights warn traffic to slow, red lights and the stop arm signal a stop where students are loading or unloading.

Activate amber lights at least 100 feet before the stop and red lights once the bus is stopped, where state law requires the stop arm.

Students must cross in front of the bus, never behind it, and only after the driver signals them to cross.

The driver counts students as they exit and again after they reach safety on the far side of the road or the sidewalk.

Never move the bus until every student is accounted for, seated or clear of the danger zone, and the door is closed.

The danger zone extends about 10 feet around the bus; students inside it are hard to see from the driver's seat.

At railroad crossings and divided highways, follow the specific loading rules for that location; do not unload where students would have to cross multiple lanes.

If a student drops something near the bus, the driver must secure the bus and retrieve it; students never go back for dropped items.

The driver's authority over students exists while they are on the bus and during loading and unloading; discipline is handled calmly and reported to the school.

Use a seating chart to separate disruptive students and to document who sat where in case of an incident.

For a fight or serious disruption, stop the bus in a safe location, secure the bus, and request help rather than physically intervening beyond protecting safety.

Evacuation is ordered when the bus is on fire, carrying hazardous materials, or in imminent danger; otherwise keeping students aboard is usually safer.

Evacuation order: students exit by the nearest safe exit, move at least 100 feet from the bus and upwind, and assemble at a designated point for a head count.

Front door evacuation is used for most emergencies; rear door evacuation is used when the front is blocked, and students are spotted as they exit.

After any emergency, account for all students, call dispatch, and complete an incident report; never leave students unattended.

A first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and emergency contact list must be aboard and their locations known to the driver.