South Carolina CDL: Passenger Vehicles Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is All of the above

The North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria includes the following critical inspection items for passenger vehicles, such as buses and passenger vans: (1) All required emergency exits must be present, fully operative, and unobstructed. (2) No passenger seats may be loose. (3) There must be no bare cables exposed in the battery compartment or engine compartment. (In this context, a cable is the power-conveying part of a high-wattage or high-voltage electrical system.) If any of these critical criteria are not met, your bus can be put out of service.

Not quite. The answer is Yes, if it's medically prescribed and in a container designed for personal use.

Riders sometimes board a bus with an unlabeled HazMat. Do not allow riders to carry on common hazards such as car batteries or gasoline. Oxygen medically prescribed for, in the possession of a passenger, and in a container designed for personal use is allowed.

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

There is no national requirement for coach buses to stop at permanent weigh station locations. Instead, each state can set its own rules. As of March 2021, there are 24 states in which coach buses must stop at weigh stations, at least under certain circumstances.

Source: Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, March 2021

Not quite. The answer is Yes, but only up to 100 pounds.

Many hazardous materials cannot be carried on a bus. These include any amounts of Division 2.3 poison gases, liquid Class 6 poisons, or tear gas; or more than 100 pounds of solid Class 6 poisons. Also, buses may never carry explosives (except small-arms ammunition) or radioactive materials in the space occupied by people. Finally, buses may not carry more than a total of 500 pounds of allowed hazardous materials, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class.

Not quite. The answer is check expressway traffic, signal, and merge smoothly into traffic.

To enter an expressway, perform the following steps: 1. Check for traffic. 2. Use the proper signals. 3. Merge smoothly into the proper lane of traffic.

Not quite. The answer is in front of the standee line.

Buses that allow passengers to stand must have some way to show passengers that they must stand behind the driver. This can be a two-inch-wide line (called the standee line) on the floor behind the driver's seat.

Not quite. The answer is At the end of your shift

If you work for an interstate carrier, you must complete a post-trip vehicle inspection report for each vehicle you drove during your shift. Note any safety-related problems that you found while driving the vehicle and repairs that you believe are needed. The inspection report will let the next driver know if there are safety-related problems. It will also let the carrier know if safety-related repairs are needed. Federal regulations require an inspection report be completed by the end of the day's use of the vehicle. Effective September 2020, federal regulations no longer require you to submit an inspection report if you found no defects in the vehicle and know of no defects in the vehicle.

Source: 49 CFR 396.11

Not quite. The answer is Your stopping distance quadruples if you double your speed.

You need about four times as much stopping distance when travelling at 40 mph compared to 20 mph.

Not quite. The answer is in a closed building with passengers on board.

Avoid fueling your bus with riders on board unless it is absolutely necessary. Never refuel in a closed building with riders on board.

Not quite. The answer is Slow to a safe speed before entering the curve, then accelerate slightly through it.

The safest way to take a curve is to slow down before the curve and then accelerate slightly through the curve. Braking in a curve risks a skid.

Not quite. The answer is safe for cars in good weather.

Each curve has a safe "design speed," which is its safe speed for cars in good weather. However, at that speed, a bus is more prone to rolling over. And it may not be safe for any vehicles to travel at that speed in bad weather. In particular, a bus could go sliding right off the road. For safety on curves, slow down below the posted speed. If your bus is leaning outward on a banked curve, you are driving too fast.

Not quite. The answer is watch for poles and tree branches.

School and mass transit buses sometimes scrape off mirrors or hit passing vehicles when pulling out from a bus stop. Remember the clearance your bus needs, and watch for poles and tree limbs at stops. Know the size of the gap your bus needs to accelerate and merge with traffic. Wait for the gap to open before you leave the stop. Never assume that other drivers will brake to leave you room when you signal or start to pull out.

Not quite. The answer is Anyone or anything that may cause an unsafe condition

A hazard is a road user or road condition that presents a possible danger. A hazard is something that can go wrong but shouldn't if you've been vigilant.

Not quite. The answer is it must be closed whenever the bus is in motion.

Emergency exits must be closed whenever the bus is in motion. If an emergency exit has a red emergency exit light, it should be turned on whenever conditions require you to turn on your headlights.

Not quite. The answer is in the aisles.

Carry-on baggage must not be left in doorways or aisles because someone could trip over it or it could block the way to an emergency exit. Carry-on luggage must be stowed so it can't restrict the driver's movements or injure passengers if it falls or shifts.

Not quite. The answer is remind riders to take carry-ons with them whenever they get off the bus.

Once you've arrived at a bus stop, announce the location and bus number. If the aisle is on a lower level than the seats, remind disembarking passengers to watch their step. Also remind disembarking passengers to take all their carry-on luggage and other personal effects with them as they get off the bus.

Not quite. The answer is so any door or window can be used in an emergency.

Carry-on baggage must not be left in a doorway or aisle where it could trip riders. Secure baggage and freight so it (a) remains undamaged; (b) allows the driver to move freely and easily; (c) allows riders to exit by any window or door in an emergency; and (d) protects riders from injury if carry-on baggage falls or shifts.

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

If you have a drunk or disruptive passenger, you have a few options for the safety of all concerned. If possible, follow your carrier's guidelines for dealing with such passengers. Otherwise, you may drop the passenger off at the next scheduled stop or in any clean, well-lighted place where there are many people.

Not quite. The answer is 50 feet

Stop at drawbridges that do not have a signal light or traffic control attendant. Stop at least 50 feet before the draw of the bridge and look to make sure the draw is completely closed before you proceed across.

Not quite. The answer is may be unsafe for a bus.

The posted speed for a curve may be safe for cars but too fast for buses. With good traction, the bus may roll over; with poor traction, it might slide off the curve. If your bus leans toward the outside on a banked curve, you are driving too fast. The safest way to take a curve in a bus is to slow down before the curve and then accelerate slightly through the curve.