Washington CDL: School Bus Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is All of the above

Hydroplaning is a unique situation where your bus loses traction on a slippery surface. If your bus is traveling straight, it may begin to feel slightly loose. If there was a high level of road feel in normal conditions, it may suddenly diminish. If the drive wheels hydroplane, there may be a sudden audible rise in engine RPM and indicated speed as they begin to spin. In a broad highway turn, if the front wheels lose traction, the bus will suddenly begin to drift toward the outside of the bend. If the rear wheels lose traction, the back of the bus will begin to slide out sideways into a skid. If all four wheels hydroplane at once, the bus will slide in a straight line, again toward the outside of the bend if in a turn. When any or all of the wheels regain traction, there may be a sudden jerk in whatever direction that wheel is pointed.

Not quite. The answer is Tell students to leave any dropped objects, move out of the danger zones, and get your attention to retrieve the objects.

For their safety, students should remain within your view during loading and unloading. If a student tries to retrieve a dropped item, he or she may disappear from your view into a danger zone. Tell students to move out of the danger zones and notify you before they try to retrieve any dropped objects.

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 in a logical sequence.

To ensure that none of the mirrors will be missed, always check them in a logical sequence.

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 Washington State Commercial Driver Guide, 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 district policy. (However, according to the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, you should turn on the flashing amber lights 300–500 feet ahead of the school bus stop if the posted speed limit is over 35 mph and 100–300 feet ahead otherwise.) 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: School Bus Driver Handbook, Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, March 2019

Not quite. The answer is When students are being loaded or unloaded

More students are killed while getting on or off a school bus each year than are killed as passengers inside a school bus. Most bus-related injuries and deaths occur during the loading and unloading processes. You must thoroughly understand how to keep students safe before, during, and after loading or unloading.

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 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 Only at school or the student's designated bus stop

You may put a misbehaving student off the bus only at school or his or her designated bus stop. If a student is so unruly that it's unsafe to keep driving, contact a school administrator or the police to arrive and handle the situation.

Not quite. The answer is prevents skids caused by hard braking.

If you brake hard on a slippery surface, the force of the brakes may exceed the tires' grip of the road, causing the wheels to lock up. If the wheels lock up, your bus may skid. ABS prevents your wheels from locking up so you can maintain control. However, that's all that ABS does. It won't necessarily shorten your stopping distance or prevent a skid that is caused by turning too fast. Therefore, if your bus has ABS, drive the same careful way as you would if the bus didn't have ABS.

Not quite. The answer is 400 feet

The blind spot behind a school bus usually extends 50 to 150 feet behind the bus, but it can extend up to 400 feet, depending on the length and width of the bus.

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

A malfunctioning railroad crossing signal makes it too dangerous to proceed. Call your dispatcher, let them know about it, and ask for instructions.

Not quite. The answer is Secure the bus.

After you've determined the need to evacuate and decided on the type of evacuation, you must secure the bus to keep it from moving. Put the transmission in Park (or Neutral if there is no Park shift point). Set the parking brakes, turn off the engine, and remove the ignition key. Also activate the hazard warning lights.

Not quite. The answer is 3 feet.

Ever notice how far the rear bumper of a school bus is from the rear wheels? In a sharp turn, the rear end of the school bus will swing out as much as three feet in the opposite direction. Before and during a turn, check your mirrors to monitor the tail swing to prevent a collision.

Not quite. The answer is Check if there are any more students hiding or sleeping on the bus.

After unloading students at school, walk through the bus to make sure that there are no more students still on the bus. One or more students may have fallen asleep on the bus or be in hiding.

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 Drive through the gate.

It's much too dangerous to remain stopped on the tracks for an extended period. If the gate comes down after you have started across, drive right through it. The gate will break away.

Not quite. The answer is only with the written approval of the school district.

Each school district establishes official routes and official school bus stops. Never change the location of a bus stop without written approval from the appropriate school district official.

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 Washington State Commercial Driver Guide, you must instruct students to walk at least 10 feet from the side of the bus.

Not quite. The answer is Remove the key from the ignition if you are leaving the driver's compartment.

When you stop at school to pick up students, secure the bus. Shut off the engine. If you must leave the driver's compartment, remove the key from the ignition and take it with you. Position yourself to supervise loading as required by your district.