Transporting Passengers Safely
The standee line and aisle
Passengers must stay behind the standee line, and no passenger may stand in the aisle while the bus is moving. The aisle must stay clear of bags, legs, and equipment. Do not move until passengers are seated or holding a handrail. Doors must be closed and latched.
Baggage and cargo
Secure baggage and freight so it cannot shift, block an exit, or injure passengers. Do not carry hazardous materials in the passenger compartment. Check that overhead racks and baggage compartment latches are secure. A rolling bag in the aisle is a projectile in a hard stop.
Driver distraction
Federal rules prohibit handheld mobile phone use and texting while driving a CMV. Use a hands-free device only when permitted and safe, and keep calls short. Manage disruptive passengers with a calm voice and a public-address announcement; if the behavior is unsafe, pull over in a safe place and address it before moving.
Smooth operation
Increase following distance when passengers are standing. Brake and steer smoothly. Obey the railroad-crossing stop rule for passenger-carrying CMVs. Adjust speed for weather, curves, and passenger comfort without sacrificing safety.
Worked example: A passenger stands in the aisle to talk to a friend two rows back. The driver announces that the bus cannot move until the aisle is clear; if the passenger refuses, the driver stops safely and addresses the passenger directly. Reasoning: an aisle standee is both a fall hazard and an evacuation obstruction, and the driver is responsible for safe loading.
Traps that cost marks: treating a short trip as exempt from the standee rule; letting bags block the aisle; allowing a passenger to distract the driver; and closing the door without checking the blind spot.