Florida CDL School Bus Test cheat sheet

Danger zone is the area within 10 feet around the bus (front, rear, and both sides); students in this zone are hidden from the driver's view.

The most dangerous zone is directly in front of the bus and the right rear; drivers must count students and account for every one.

Loading/unloading rule: stop the bus, set the parking brake, place transmission in neutral (or park), activate the red flashing lights and stop arm, then open the door.

Students must cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus and wait for the driver's hand signal before crossing.

Use a hand signal to direct students to cross; never wave or honk to hurry students.

When unloading, the driver remains at the wheel; if a student drops an object near the bus, the student must not retrieve it-the driver retrieves it after students are safe.

Before resuming motion, check both mirrors, ensure the stop arm is retracted, close the door, and confirm all students are clear of the danger zone.

At a stop, do not allow students to stand in the stairwell or on the steps while the bus is moving.

Florida law places responsibility for student conduct on the bus with the driver; the driver may assign seats and enforce rules.

Discipline should be progressive: verbal warning, seat change, parent contact, referral to school administration, and removal from the bus for serious or repeated violations.

The driver may not use physical force to discipline students except to protect safety; corporal punishment is prohibited.

A driver must not put a student off the bus except at school or the student's assigned stop, unless a documented emergency or administrator authorization exists.

Report serious misconduct (fighting, weapons, threats) immediately to dispatch and school administration.

Bullying and harassment on the bus must be reported under Florida school district anti-bullying policies.

Keep a written record of incidents including time, location, student names, witnesses, and action taken.

The driver must not leave the bus unattended with students aboard except for an emergency evacuation.

Evacuation order: stop the bus, set the parking brake, turn off engine, remove key, activate hazard lights, then evacuate.

Front-door evacuation is used for fire in the rear; rear-door evacuation is used for fire near the front or when the front door is blocked.

Evacuation command sequence: "Unload!" then direct students to a safe location at least 100 feet from the bus and upwind if fire or hazardous material is involved.

After evacuation, account for all students using a count and roster; report missing students to emergency responders.

In an accident: stop, secure the scene, check for injuries, call 911 and dispatch, do not move injured students unless immediate danger exists.

Florida law requires reporting any crash involving injury, death, or property damage to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Post warning triangles or reflectors at the required distances when the bus is stopped on a roadway after a crash.

Do not leave the scene until law enforcement authorizes departure and all students are accounted for.

Pre-trip inspection includes brakes, tires, lights, stop arm, mirrors, horn, emergency exits, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and passenger seats.

Brake check: with engine running, apply service brake and hold; pedal should not fade or sink; test parking brake holding power.

Air brake buses: check that the low-air warning activates before pressure drops below 60 psi.

Railroad crossing procedure: stop within 15 to 50 feet of the nearest rail, open the door and window, listen, look both ways, close door, then proceed.

Never shift gears while crossing railroad tracks; cross in the same gear used to start.

If the bus stalls on the tracks, evacuate students immediately and move them at least 100 feet away from the tracks and toward the approaching train's direction.

Florida law requires school buses to stop at all railroad crossings except where an exempt crossing sign or a law enforcement officer or flagger directs traffic.

Post-trip inspection: walk the bus, check for sleeping students, close windows, secure the bus, and complete the written report.

Seat belts, if equipped, must be worn by the driver and used per district policy; compartmentalization protects students in crash-rated seats.

Students must remain seated while the bus is in motion; the aisle and emergency exits must stay clear.

Post-trip inspection is required after every route; walk from front to back checking each seat for sleeping or left-behind students.

The post-trip report must be completed and signed; failure to check for sleeping students can be fatal in hot Florida weather.

Emergency equipment to check: fire extinguisher, first aid kit, body fluid cleanup kit, warning triangles, and emergency exit operation.

Wheelchair securement: four-point tie-down plus occupant restraint; driver verifies securement before moving.

Do not allow students to ride in the aisle or stand in the stairwell; capacity must not be exceeded.

Report any mechanical defect immediately and remove the bus from service if it is unsafe.

Use the crossover mirrors to see the front bumper and the danger zone; adjust mirrors before every trip.

Stop arm and red lights must be activated only when loading or unloading students; amber lights warn of an approaching stop.

Use the eight-light system: amber warning lights before the stop, red lights and stop arm when stopped.

Maintain following distance of at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length plus one second; for a 40-foot bus, at least 5 seconds.

Use the retarder and downshift before long downgrades; do not ride the brakes.

Turn signals must be used at least 100 feet before a turn; check mirrors and blind spots before lane changes.

Do not back the bus unless necessary; use a spotter and check mirrors and the rear danger zone before backing.

Secure the bus: parking brake set, transmission in park or neutral with wheels chocked, key removed, door locked.

Florida law (F.S. 316.172) requires drivers in both directions to stop for a school bus with red lights flashing on a two-lane road; on a divided highway with a median, only traffic on the bus's side must stop.

The stop arm and red lights may only be used when loading or unloading students; misuse is a violation.

School bus drivers must hold a Florida CDL with passenger (P) and school bus (S) endorsements.

Florida requires school bus drivers to complete pre-service training, background screening, and periodic re-examination.

A driver may not operate a school bus while using a hand-held cell phone or texting.

Florida law requires buses to stop at railroad crossings; exceptions are posted exempt crossings.

School buses must meet Florida fire safety and inspection standards; annual inspections are required.

Passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing is a moving violation with enhanced penalties in Florida.

Florida rain: hydroplaning occurs when water depth exceeds tread depth; reduce speed and avoid sudden braking.

Fog and heavy rain: use low-beam headlights, increase following distance, and be prepared to stop within the visible distance.

High winds: grip the wheel firmly, reduce speed, and be alert for students being blown into the roadway.

At dusk and dawn, use headlights and watch for students walking in the roadway; visibility is reduced.

Construction zones: obey flaggers, reduce speed, and watch for narrowed lanes and workers.

On snow or ice (rare in Florida but possible in north Florida), reduce speed and avoid abrupt steering or braking.

At bus stops, watch for students running from between parked cars; scan the danger zone continuously.

When a hazard appears, the priority order is: identify, predict, decide, and execute (IPDE).