Loading and Unloading Passengers
What this domain tests
This domain tests whether you can stop, load, secure, and unload passengers without exposing them to traffic, falls, or being caught in a closing door. It also tests control of the bus when passengers are standing or using mobility aids.
Core rules
- Choose a safe stop: curb lane, legal, well-lit, with room for the door and wheelchair ramp. Avoid stopping in an intersection or on a blind curve.
- Set the parking brake, place the transmission in Park or Neutral as required, and use four-way flashers. Keep the service brake applied until you are secure.
- Open the door only when stopped. Watch the stepwell and mirror for passengers approaching from both sides.
- Keep the aisle and standee area clear. Do not let passengers stand forward of the standee line. Secure wheelchairs and mobility devices at approved tie-down points.
- Count passengers or otherwise account for them. Close the door before moving; check mirrors and blind spots; signal and merge smoothly.
- At unloading, stop completely, secure the bus, and tell passengers when it is safe to cross. Do not wave passengers across multiple lanes.
Worked example
A passenger with a walker wants to board at a stop where the curb is blocked by a delivery truck. The driver stops in the traffic lane and opens the door. Correct reasoning: this exposes the passenger to moving traffic and may be illegal. The driver should find a safer legal stop, or wait until the curb is clear, then deploy the ramp, assist, and secure the walker.
Traps that cost marks
Moving before the door is fully closed. Forgetting the parking brake. Letting passengers unload into a traffic lane. Assuming a wheelchair brake is enough without tie-downs. Not checking the stepwell mirror.