Passenger Transport: Loading, Exits, and Crossings
Maryland's Passenger Transport domain tests safe operation of buses and other CMVs carrying passengers. The examiner looks for pre-trip checks, passenger management, emergency exits, and railroad-crossing discipline.
Before and during the trip
Inspect the bus, emergency exits, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, and passenger seats. Do not fuel with passengers aboard. Keep aisles and exits clear; secure baggage and mobility devices. Standees are allowed only where the bus is designed for them, and never above the posted limit. Stop close to the curb, set the parking brake, and watch passengers board and exit. Count passengers when appropriate.
Emergencies and crossings
Know the types of exits, including door, window, roof hatch, and emergency door, and how to evacuate. A bus carrying passengers must stop at railroad crossings unless the crossing is exempt and the driver can see clearly; open the door, listen, close it, and cross without stopping on the tracks. At a bus stop, do not move until boarding passengers are seated or braced and alighting passengers are clear.
Worked example
A bus stops at a crossing with the door open. The driver hears a train and sees the gate lowering. The correct action is to keep the bus clear of the tracks and wait; if already on the tracks, drive through the gate rather than remain on the crossing. Never back up to clear a crossing.
Traps
Leaving baggage in the aisle; not securing a wheelchair; moving before passengers are seated; missing an exit check; treating a bus stop as a place to relax; and failing to stop at a railroad crossing when passengers are aboard.