School Buses
School Buses tests loading and unloading, the danger zone, mirror use, stop arms, and student control. The driver must account for students before, during, and after every stop.
Core rules
- Use the stop arm and red lights as required. Stop so students do not have to cross in front of the bus unnecessarily.
- The danger zone is the area around the bus where children are hard to see. Check mirrors before moving and count students as they load and unload.
- At railroad crossings, stop, open the door if required, look and listen, and close the door before crossing.
- Do not move until students are seated or safely clear. If a student disappears from view, stop and check.
- Complete a post-trip walk-through to find sleeping or left-behind students.
Worked example
A student drops a book beside the bus and bends down near the rear wheels. The driver sees the student in the mirror, keeps the bus stopped, and signals the student to move away before pulling forward. Reasoning: a child in the danger zone can disappear from the driver's view, so the safe action is to remain stopped until the child is clear.
Traps
Assuming children can see the bus; moving while a student is still in the danger zone; and skipping the post-trip check because the route is finished.