School Bus Danger Zones and Stop Procedures
This domain tests the stop itself: where the bus is positioned, when the red lights and stop arm go on, and how you control students and traffic. The danger zone is the 10-foot band around the bus; stop procedure is what keeps students out of it until traffic is controlled.
Setting the stop
- Choose a location where students can wait at least 10 feet off the roadway.
- Stop with the door aligned to the waiting point, set the parking brake, and secure the transmission according to procedure.
- Activate flashing red lights and extend the stop arm only after the bus is fully stopped. The stop arm is a warning, not a barrier.
The sequence
- Check traffic in all mirrors before opening the door.
- Open the door and give students a clear hand signal to cross only when you can see them and traffic is stopped.
- Keep the door open and remain seated with control of the bus.
- Count students, close the door, retract the stop arm, check mirrors, and proceed only when students are clear.
Worked example
Your stop is just beyond a curve. A car may not see the red lights in time. Correct action: stop before the curve where sight distance is better, or use an approved alternate stop; do not wave students across. Reasoning: the stop arm does not shorten a driver's reaction distance, and your duty is to place the bus where warning is visible.
Traps
- Deploying the stop arm while the bus is still rolling.
- Moving the bus while the stop arm is extended or a student is within 10 feet.
- Treating the stop arm as protection instead of a warning.
- Forgetting to check traffic before opening the door.