Rhode Island CDL: School Bus Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is 10 feet

A school bus's left and right danger zones extend up to ten feet from the sides of the bus.

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 Rhode Island Commercial Driver License Manual, you must instruct students to walk at least 10 feet from the side of 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 Never put a student off the bus except at school or designated bus stops.

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 but firmly to the offending student about the behavior you expect on the bus. If a change of seating is needed, request that the student move to a seat near you. 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 Ask the student to move to a seat near you.

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 but firmly to the offending student about the behavior you expect on the bus. If a change of seating is needed, request that the student move to a seat near you. 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 in the center

When approaching a bus stop, stay in the center of the rightmost (curb side) lane on multilane roads or in the center of the driving lane on two-way roads. (You'll have to stop at a point that will force the students to walk to the bus anyway.)

Not quite. The answer is all the students in the bus.

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

Not quite. The answer is Local policy overrides state policy.

Local policy is the guideline for your role and responsibility as a driver of students with disabilities. When providing first aid, remember that local policy overrides state policy.

Not quite. The answer is Call your dispatcher and ask for instructions.

A malfunctioning railroad crossing signal makes it too dangerous to proceed. If a police officer is at the crossing, follow the officer's directions. Otherwise, call your dispatcher, let them know about it, and ask for instructions.

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

As you approach a school bus stop, turn on your alternating flashing amber lights well before the stop. According to the Rhode Island Commercial Driver License Manual, 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." (However, the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles requires you to turn on the flashing amber lights 200–250 feet in advance.) Check your mirrors constantly to make sure that there are no pedestrians, vehicles, or other objects in any of your bus's danger zones.

Source: "Unloading Students Without a Monitor," Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, http://www.dmv.ri.gov/documents/forms/license/Unloading%20Students%20Without%20a%20Monitor.pdf

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 between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail.

At a railroad crossing, you must stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. Trains are at least six feet wider than the tracks they run on, so you don't want to be too close.

Not quite. The answer is Type D

The Type D school bus is often called transit style, because it resembles a transit bus. The body is constructed upon a stripped chassis. The engine can be forward, next to the driver's seat; or it can be placed in the rear. Note that the passenger entrance door and the driver's position are forward of the front wheels. This can affect how you steer the bus.

Not quite. The answer is Special, Treat Equally, Attention, Restraints, Different Techniques

You will likely carry at least one student with a disability on your bus during your driving career. Because a bus operator may not even know he/she is transporting a student with a disability, all operators should be aware of the special concerns relating to these passengers. An easy way to remember these special concerns is with the word “START.” S = Special. You should get to know each one and learn their individual traits. Talk with the student, their parents, aides, and teachers to find out important information. The more you know about their needs, the better you can accommodate them. T = Treat Equally. Students with disabilities want to be treated the same as all other students. Although there are many differences, whenever possible, all students should be required to follow the same rules. A = Attention. You must pay specific attention to students with disabilities. Some students will behave poorly in order to get your attention. By paying attention to them when their behavior is appropriate, you may improve their behavior. R = Restraints. Students with physical disabilities often require special seats or restraining devices. If you are driving a bus equipped with these devices, learn to properly secure these students in their seats. Wheelchairs used by students need to be properly tied down. T = Different Techniques. If you are having trouble maintaining control of a student, change your method and try something new. Be sure to ask other drivers or your supervisor for helpful suggestions in working with particular students or situations. Even better, consult a behavioral specialist or school psychologist with expertise in this area.

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 Because so many students are killed each year while getting on or off school buses

More students are killed while getting on or off a school bus than are killed as passengers on a school bus. You must thoroughly understand how to keep students safe before, during, and after loading or unloading.

Not quite. The answer is After checking again that all traffic has stopped

At a bus stop, make a final check to see that all traffic has stopped before completely opening the door and signaling students to approach.

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 Call your dispatcher and follow local procedures.

If you have missed a student’s unloading stop, do not back up. Follow your district's local procedures for missed stops. Call your dispatcher for instructions. Never change the location of a bus stop without approval of the dispatcher.

Not quite. The answer is It depends on the state.

There is no national standard governing whether the oxygen cylinder or tank must be secured to the wheelchair, the bus floor, or the bus sidewall. Instead, each state and possibly even each school district can set its own rules. Some jurisdictions allow only one of these three options; other jurisdictions allow more than one option. Check with your state department of education or state department of health and human services, and check with your school district as well.