California CDL: School Bus Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is National School Bus Glossy Yellow

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued guidelines to the states on pupil transportation safety. One of these guidelines is that all school buses should be painted National School Bus Glossy Yellow (AMS-STD-595a color 13432). In accordance with this guideline, all states now require school buses to be painted this color. National School Bus Glossy Yellow was originally chosen for ease of visibility.

Not quite. The answer is Both of the above are true.

ABS activates only to keep your wheels from locking up during hard braking on slippery surfaces, so you won't have to pump the brakes. The rest of the time, drive and brake the same way that you always have. Do not drive or brake any differently just because of ABS. Use only the braking that is necessary to stop safely and stay in control.

Not quite. The answer is do both of the above.

In case of emergency, use your CB radio to contact the dispatch office of your location, conditions and type of assistance needed. Dangle the radio microphone or telephone out of the driver’s window for later use, if operable.

Not quite. The answer is activate the alternating flashing red lights and ensure that the stop arm is extended.

After stopping but before loading or unloading, set your transmission in Park (or Neutral if there is no Park shift point), turn on the alternating red lights, and extend the stop arm.

Not quite. The answer is a railroad crossing that has a traffic control device.

Unlike a passive railroad crossing, an active railroad crossing is controlled by a traffic control device such as some combination of bells, gates, or flashing red lights.

Not quite. The answer is 200 feet or 5–10 seconds

According to the California Commercial Driver Handbook, you should turn on the flashing amber lights at least 200 feet or 5–10 seconds ahead of the school bus stop "or in accordance with state law."

Not quite. The answer is When loading or unloading students

Each year, more students are killed while getting on or off a school bus than are killed as passengers inside a school bus.

Not quite. The answer is you will still have normal brake function and will just need to get the ABS repaired soon.

If the ABS malfunction lamp is lit, it means there may be a problem with the ABS. However, there is no need to panic. Your bus's brakes should otherwise be unaffected in normal driving. Continue to use them until you can have the ABS serviced.

Not quite. The answer is the entire sides of the bus up to the mirror mounts.

The outside left and right side convex mirrors should be positioned so you can see the left and right sides of the bus up to the mirror mounts, at least one lane of traffic on each side, and the front of the rear tires touching the ground. However, bear in mind that convex mirrors can make objects look smaller and farther away than they really are.

Not quite. The answer is at least 10 feet away from the side of the bus.

Instruct students who are exiting the bus at their stop to walk away from the side of the bus so you can see them and account for all of them before you drive on. According to the California Commercial Driver Handbook, you must instruct students to walk at least 10 feet from the side of the bus.

Not quite. The answer is Stop, look, and listen.

Before crossing the tracks, you must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. Look in both directions for an approaching train. Also turn off the radio and any noisy equipment and listen for an approaching train.

Not quite. The answer is both of the above are true.

During your pre-trip inspection, check that the battery is secure and free of excessive corrosion. Also check that the cover or door of the battery box is secure and undamaged.

Not quite. The answer is Pull over, secure the bus, and speak to the unruly students respectfully but firmly.

If a serious behavior issue occurs on your bus that can't wait, follow your school's procedures for handling such situations. Here are a few general guidelines: Pull over and secure the bus. Take your ignition key with you. Stand up and speak respectfully to the offending students. Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice. Remind the offending students of the behavior that is expected of them. However, never put a student off the bus except at school or his or her designated bus stop. If you absolutely have to remove the student at another location, call a school administrator or the police to do it.

Not quite. The answer is monitor passenger activity inside the bus.

The main purpose of the inside rear-view mirror is to monitor passenger activity inside the bus.

Not quite. The answer is the left and right front tires touching the ground.

Position the crossover mirrors so you can view the danger zone at the front of the bus. You should be able to see the front tires touching the ground.

Not quite. The answer is tell the students to remain seated until you signal them to exit.

When unloading the bus at school, secure the bus, tell the students to remain seated until you signal them to exit, and position yourself to supervise unloading. Only then should you signal the students to start exiting the bus in an orderly manner under your supervision.

Not quite. The answer is All of the above can help.

There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of hijacking. You and your school district should have a plan on how to prevent hijackings, and an emergency plan of what to do if an attempted hijacking occurs. Some elements of these plans might include the following: (1) Never allow unauthorized persons to board your school bus, regardless of the person's age. These days, even a child can be carrying a gun. (2) Stay in frequent communication with your dispatcher, letting your dispatcher know your current location each time. If your dispatcher suddenly loses contact with you, at least he or she will know your last reported location. (3) Ask older students to call the police on their cell phones if an attempted hijacking occurs, allowing you to focus on how to handle the attempted hijacking.

Source: "How to Prevent the Threat of School Bus Hijacking," TrackSchoolBus.com, October 11, 2018

Not quite. The answer is evacuate the students upwind of the bus.

If the bus is on fire, don't waste time trying to put the fire out. Quickly evacuate everyone from the bus, ideally within two minutes. Lead the students at least 100 feet upwind of the bus to avoid exposing them to smoke or toxic gases. If the bus caught fire from an accident in which hazardous materials were spilled, lead the students at least 300 feet upwind of the bus.

Not quite. The answer is in either of the above situations.

Do not evacuate the bus if the students would be exposed to dangers outside the bus such as downed power lines. Also, try to avoid evacuating students who have injuries (such as neck or back fractures) that could be worsened by moving them.

Not quite. The answer is walk 10–15 feet from the side of the school bus.

As the students exit the bus, count how many are getting off at the stop. Instruct them to wait 10–15 feet away from the side of the bus so that you can count them again. The exact distance that students must move from the bus varies from one state to another. According to the California Commercial Driver Handbook, you must instruct students to walk at least 10 feet from the side of the bus.