School Bus Driving Rules and Hazard Awareness
The School Bus Driving Rules and Hazard Awareness domain tests speed, space, distraction, and scanning: the everyday rules that prevent crashes.
Speed and following
Indiana limits school buses to 60 mph. Obey lower school-zone and posted limits. Maintain at least a four-second following distance; increase it in rain, snow, or darkness. Stop for students, crossing guards, and buses with red lights.
Distractions and backing
No handheld phone use while driving. Avoid backing; if unavoidable, use a spotter and check mirrors. Never back in traffic or with students behind the bus.
Hazard scanning
Scan 12 to 15 seconds ahead, check mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds, and watch for students near the bus, cyclists, and tailgaters. If tailgated, increase space ahead and pull over safely to let the vehicle pass; do not brake-check.
Worked example: A tailgater follows closely. The driver increases following distance ahead, signals, and pulls into a safe lot. Reasoning: sudden braking could cause a rear-end crash with students aboard.
Traps: speeding to make up time; backing without a spotter; phone use; not scanning; brake-checking a tailgater.