Safe Driving Practices for Buses and Passenger Vehicles
What this domain tests
This domain covers the driving skills that differ for a bus: wide turns and tail swing, longer stopping distances, following distance scaled to vehicle length, mirror use, and weather and road conditions common in Florida.
Following distance and stopping
The CDL rule: for vehicles under 40 feet, follow at least 4 seconds; add 1 second for each 10 feet of vehicle length over 40 feet. At highway speed, double the space in rain, and more in fog or smoke. Brake smoothly and early; passengers fall when a bus is braked hard.
Turning and lane use
- Swing wide before a right turn; watch the right rear wheels in the mirror to avoid the curb.
- Tail swing: the rear of the bus swings out opposite the turn. Check both mirrors before turning and allow room for the overhang.
- Complete turns in the proper lane; do not turn from the wrong lane or cut the corner.
- Use mirrors continuously; bus blind spots are large, especially on the right and directly behind.
Weather and special conditions
- Hydroplaning: ease off the accelerator; do not brake hard or steer sharply. Slow before standing water.
- Fog or smoke: low beams, reduced speed, no cruise control, and a following distance you can stop within.
- High winds on bridges and overpasses: grip the wheel, reduce speed, and expect gusts as you leave shelter.
- Flooding: never drive through moving water; turn around.
- Downgrades: select a lower gear before the grade; do not coast.
Worked example
A 45-foot bus travels at 55 mph (about 81 feet per second) on a dry highway. Follow at least 4 seconds plus 1 second for each 10 feet over 40 - that is 4.5 seconds, rounded up to 5 seconds. 5 × 81 = about 405 feet. In heavy rain, double that to roughly 800 feet. The point of the question is usually the formula and the addition, not the exact arithmetic.
Traps that cost marks
- Using the 4-second rule for every vehicle regardless of length.
- Turning too early and hitting the curb with the rear wheels.
- Forgetting tail swing when pulling away from a stop.
- Using cruise control on wet or slippery roads.
- Treating a bus like a car in crosswinds.