OK CDL School Bus cheat sheet

The danger zone is the area within 10 feet of the school bus on all sides; students inside it are in the highest-risk zone for a bus-strike fatality.

Oklahoma law requires the bus driver to account for every student in the danger zone before moving the bus; a lost-count student means stop and re-check.

Loading/unloading sequence: stop, set parking brake, shift to neutral (or park), activate the 8-way light system, then open the door.

Students must cross far enough in front of the bus to see the driver's face (roughly 10 feet ahead) and wait for the driver's hand signal before crossing.

Never signal a student to cross until traffic in both directions has stopped and the driver has re-checked mirrors and the crossing path.

The driver counts students off the bus and counts them again at a safe point outside the danger zone; the count must match before the bus moves.

If a student drops an item near the bus, the student must leave it and tell the driver - never crawl under or reach beneath the bus.

The stop arm and red lights stay out until all students are clear of the danger zone and seated or safely off the roadway.

Post-crash priorities in order: stop and secure the bus, protect the scene (hazard lights, triangles), check for injuries, notify dispatch/911, then evacuate only if there is fire, hazardous cargo, or a safer location exists.

Evacuation commands are given in a loud, calm voice: "Evacuate" followed by the direction (front door, rear door, or both) and the assembly point.

Front-door evacuation order: driver exits first and stands at the door to hand students down; rear-door evacuation uses two student helpers outside the door.

Students evacuate at least 100 feet from the bus and from the roadway, then assemble at a single designated point where the driver can recount them.

The driver takes the emergency kit, first-aid kit, and fire extinguisher when leaving the bus, and takes the roster to account for every student.

Never evacuate students into traffic lanes or toward the fuel spill side; move upwind and uphill of a spill or fire.

After any crash involving injury, a fatality, or a hit-and-run, the driver must notify law enforcement and remain at the scene; leaving is a criminal offense.

The driver documents the crash with names, license plates, insurance, witness statements, and photos before leaving the scene, if safe to do so.

Oklahoma school buses must stop at all railroad-highway grade crossings, whether or not the crossing is marked as an exempt crossing by the state.

Stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail - close enough to see, far enough to be clear of a passing train's overhang.

Before crossing: stop, set the parking brake, open the driver's window, turn off noisy equipment (heater, fan, radio), and listen.

Look and listen in both directions, then look again; a train at 55 mph needs about a mile to stop, so a visible train means wait.

Cross only when the bus can clear the entire crossing without stopping; never shift gears while on the tracks.

If the bus stalls on the tracks, evacuate students immediately and move them at least 100 feet away from the tracks, then call 911.

Never drive around a lowered gate or past flashing lights; a gate down means a train is coming even if none is visible.

After crossing, do not stop or shift until the rear of the bus has cleared the crossing by a safe distance.

Pre-trip inspection covers fluids, belts, tires, lights, mirrors, stop arm, emergency exits, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and the brake system, including the ABS warning light.

The ABS lamp should come on at start-up and go out; a lamp that stays on means ABS is disabled and the bus should be removed from service.

ABS does not shorten stopping distance on all surfaces; it prevents wheel lockup so the driver can steer during a hard stop.

With ABS, apply firm continuous pressure and hold it - do not pump the brake; pumping defeats the system.

Air-brake buses: check the air pressure build-up rate and listen for the low-pressure warning; a leak-down test confirms the system holds pressure.

The parking brake must hold the bus on a grade; Oklahoma requires the brake to be set whenever the bus is stopped for loading or unloading.

Brake fade on long downgrades is prevented by selecting a lower gear and using the engine brake, not by riding the service brakes.

A brake system defect found in pre-trip inspection must be reported and the bus taken out of service before carrying students.

The driver's authority over students begins when they board and ends when they leave; the driver may assign seats and enforce rules, but not use corporal punishment.

Students with disabilities may require a written IEP or 504 plan accommodation; the driver follows the plan and keeps information confidential.

Bullying, fighting, or threats are documented and reported to the principal or dispatcher the same day; the driver does not handle discipline alone.

A student who refuses to obey safety instructions may be removed from the bus only at a safe stop under district policy, never left along a highway.

Special situations include a student left on the bus: check every seat and the floor after each run - a sleeping child left behind is a life-threatening event.

When a student is not met at the stop by a parent or guardian, the driver keeps the child on the bus and contacts dispatch rather than releasing them alone.

An unauthorized person attempting to board is denied entry; the driver secures the door and notifies dispatch and law enforcement.

The 8-way light system: amber warning lights activate about 100 to 300 feet before the stop; red lights and stop arm activate only when the bus is stopped and the door opens.

The stop arm extends on the driver's left side; red lights flash front and rear while students load or unload.

Oklahoma requires traffic in both directions to stop for a school bus with red lights flashing on a two-lane road; on a divided highway, only traffic behind the bus must stop.

The driver confirms traffic has stopped before signaling students to cross; a vehicle that fails to stop means hold students and sound the horn.

Choose stops with clear sight distance and room for students to wait off the roadway; stops are placed so students do not cross more than one lane.

Hazard lights are used for a disabled bus or a stop where the 8-way system is not required; they do not replace red lights at a student stop.

Headlights are required in Oklahoma when visibility is poor and at night; daytime running lights do not satisfy the requirement for a school bus.

A loaded school bus has a higher center of gravity and longer stopping distance than a passenger car; increase following distance to at least 4 seconds.

Swing wide on right turns because the rear wheels track inside the front wheels; check the right mirror for the rear axle path before completing the turn.

The blind spot behind a school bus extends about 200 feet; mirrors must be adjusted so the driver sees the rear bumper and the danger zone.

Backing is the highest-risk maneuver: use a spotter, sound the horn, and back only when necessary; never back toward students.

Speed and curves: slow before the curve, not in it, because a top-heavy bus can roll if the driver brakes hard while turning.

Railroad crossings, bridges, and narrow roads require reduced speed; the bus's height and weight limit clearance and lane width.

Distracted driving rules apply: no cell phone use while driving a school bus, and the driver keeps both hands on the wheel except to operate controls.