Virginia 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 Allow much more space than is needed under ideal driving conditions.

The usual formula for following distance under ideal conditions is one second for every ten feet of vehicle length, plus an extra second if you are traveling at over 40 mph. The only thing the CDL manual says about following distance on slippery roads is that you should allow "much more space to stop." The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recommends doubling your usual following distance under poor driving conditions.

Source: "CMV Driving Tips - Following Too Closely," FMCSA, https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/driver-safety/cmv-driving-tips-following-too-closely

Not quite. The answer is close any open access panels.

As you check the outside of the bus, close any open emergency exits. Also, close any open access panels (for baggage, restroom service, engine, etc.) before driving.

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 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 Shift your attention back and forth, near and far.

While driving your vehicle, look ahead a full 12–15 seconds. Be aware of what is happening all around your vehicle, both farther from it and closer to it. Keep shifting your attention back and forth, near and far, left and right, so that you can constantly scan all these areas.

Not quite. The answer is All of the above

If the coach bus has a restroom (lavatory), check the following during your pre-trip inspection of the vehicle: (1) The restroom must be clean overall. (2) The Vacant/Occupied indicator must be present, clean, undamaged, and working properly. (3) The restroom lights must work properly when the restroom door is closed. (4) The restroom must be properly stocked with enough soap and toilet paper for the trip, and (these days) hand sanitizer as well.

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 not shift gears

If your bus has a manual transmission, do not shift gears while crossing a raised railroad crossing. Shifting gears on a raised railroad crossing increases the chance that your vehicle will stall and get stuck on the tracks.

Not quite. The answer is the defects listed on it have been certified as either repaired or not needing to be repaired.

Don't sign a previous driver's inspection report unless the defects listed on it have been certified as either repaired or not needing to be repaired. You will, of course, perform your own pre-trip inspection.

Not quite. The answer is No.

Never drive with an open emergency exit door or window. As part of your pre-trip inspection of the interior of the bus, check that all emergency exit doors and windows are securely closed.

Not quite. The answer is at intersections.

Bus accidents often happen at intersections, where there are many drivers and pedestrians doing different things. Use caution at intersections even if there are signs or signals that are supposed to control traffic. Also use caution at railroad crossings. Buses are required to stop at railroad crossings.

Not quite. The answer is Zero

Federal regulations require all seats to be securely fastened to the bus. Temporary folding seats are not permitted on a bus unless it's carrying agricultural workers on short trips. [49 CFR 393.91],

Source: 29 CFR 500.105

Not quite. The answer is Tornado

In most extreme situations, it is safer for the passengers to remain inside the bus – but not in the case of a tornado. First, you can't hope to outrun a tornado. The tornado can skip from one point and touch down at another point unpredictably. Second, the tornado can destroy much of what lies in its path. Therefore, when a tornado is around, evacuate the bus, and get everyone to shelter in the basement or other safe room of a nearby building. If no such shelter is available, get the passengers into a ditch or ravine (but not underneath a bridge or overpass), and instruct them to lie face down with their hands over their head. In the extremely unlikely event that lightning hits your bus, it should pass around the metal exterior of the bus. However, stay off the radio. Lightning can travel down antennas and through electronic gear. Have your passengers stay inside the bus, and stay away from the sides of the bus.

Not quite. The answer is latch

If you are performing your vehicle inspection test on a coach or transit bus, you will have to inspect the baggage compartments. Check that the baggage compartment doors are undamaged, operate properly, and latch securely.

Not quite. The answer is No, not in space occupied by people.

Passenger buses can carry up to 100 pounds of each class of hazardous materials and up to 500 pounds total. However, there are some exceptions. Division 2.3 (poison gas) and liquid Class 6 (poison) cannot be carried in any amounts. Explosives and radioactives cannot be carried in the passenger area. Riders sometimes board a bus with an unlabeled hazardous material. Do not allow riders to carry on common hazards such as car batteries or gasoline.

Not quite. The answer is all of the above.

Relatively small amounts of hazardous materials that are packaged to reduce risk may be classified as a “Limited Quantity (LQ).” Examples include aerosol cans and chemicals (such as bleaches) that are intended to be sold retail to consumers. LQ materials are exempt from the usual shipping paper requirements for hazmat. Also, a vehicle transporting only LQ packages does not have to be placarded. The maximum allowed amounts and the federal packaging requirements for LQ depend on the hazard class of the material. The outer packaging of each LQ package must bear the diamond-shaped Limited Quantity mark. This mark replaces the older “Other Regulated Materials – Domestic (ORM-D)” designation, which was phased out by December 31, 2020. Unlike ORM-D, Limited Quantity packages may be shipped internationally, subject to United Nations (UN) and other international requirements.

Not quite. The answer is your ability to drive safely is impaired by illness or fatigue.

Federal regulations prohibit you from operating a commercial motor vehicle if your ability to drive safely is impaired for any reason: fatigue, illness, or the side effects of medications you're taking.

Not quite. The answer is 12–15 seconds ahead.

While driving, you should scan the road 12–15 seconds ahead. At typical speeds in urban areas, your vehicle will travel about one block in 12–15 seconds. At 60 mph, your vehicle will travel a quarter of a mile in 15 seconds.

Not quite. The answer is No, because it may distract the bus driver from driving.

Conversations with passengers represent a distraction from the driving task. The bus driver should avoid all potential distractions while driving the bus. The only real way to treat feelings of sleepiness is with sleep.