School Bus CDL Practice Test

What is the "Danger Zone" around a school bus?

• A. 10-foot area around the bus where children are at greatest risk
• B. Inside the bus
• C. Driver area
• D. Trunk

What mirror is used to view the front bumper area?

• A. Crossover mirror (convex)
• B. Driver mirror
• C. Rear mirror
• D. Side mirror only

Before students approach the bus stop, the driver should:

• A. Activate alternating flashing red lights and stop arm
• B. Honk only
• C. Move forward
• D. Open door without signal

When loading students, the driver should:

• A. Count students boarding and watch for stragglers
• B. Just open door
• C. Look at phone
• D. Speed up

What is the "no child left" rule?

• A. Conduct post-trip walk-through to ensure no student remains
• B. No empty seats
• C. Children always seated
• D. Driver always accompanied

When unloading at a school stop, the driver should:

• A. Make sure students cross safely well in front of the bus
• B. Wave them across behind bus
• C. Skip waiting
• D. Go fast

What is the rule for backing a school bus?

• A. Avoid backing — if necessary, use a helper or check completely
• B. Back freely
• C. Back without checking
• D. Back fast

When approaching a railroad crossing in a school bus, you must:

• A. Stop 15-50 ft from nearest rail, open service door, listen
• B. Slow only
• C. Honk
• D. Speed across

What should the driver do if the bus stalls on tracks?

• A. Evacuate students immediately at least 100 ft from tracks at 45° angle
• B. Wait for help
• C. Check engine
• D. Call dispatch first

What is the maximum number of students per seat (typical)?

• A. Three small or two large per seat (varies by district)
• B. 5
• C. 1
• D. 7

When are alternating flashing red lights used?

• A. When bus is stopped to load/unload students
• B. Anytime
• C. At intersections
• D. Only at night

When are amber warning lights used?

• A. Approaching the bus stop, before activating reds
• B. After loading
• C. On highways
• D. Only at night

What is the proper procedure if the bus engine catches fire?

• A. Stop, evacuate students, use extinguisher if safe
• B. Drive to nearest station
• C. Continue route
• D. Open windows only

What is the "emergency exit" procedure?

• A. Train students, drill regularly, instruct calmly during emergencies
• B. No drills needed
• C. Driver evacuates first
• D. Skip emergency exits

Students should be unloaded and crossed:

• A. 10 feet in front of bus, in driver's view
• B. Behind the bus
• C. Either side
• D. 20 feet ahead

What is "post-trip inspection"?

• A. Check inside and outside for sleeping children, damage, lost items
• B. Tire only
• C. Fuel only
• D. No requirement

When should you sweep the area in front of the bus before pulling away?

• A. Always — children may be in front bumper blind spot
• B. Sometimes
• C. Never
• D. Only at terminal

What is the danger zone behind the bus?

• A. Up to 10 ft — driver cannot see children directly
• B. No danger zone
• C. 50 ft
• D. 100 ft

What is the danger zone on the right side of the bus?

• A. Up to 12 feet, includes loading area
• B. No zone
• C. 50 feet
• D. 5 ft only

When is the right side most dangerous?

• A. When unloading and students cross or drop items
• B. When parked
• C. When loading
• D. Never

Why use the convex (crossover) mirrors?

• A. Show areas right next to bus and front bumper that flat mirrors miss
• B. Extend view far away
• C. Cosmetic
• D. For passengers

What is the proper signal for a student to cross?

• A. Driver-established hand signal that students are taught
• B. Honk
• C. No signal
• D. Whistle

Why must drivers count students at each stop?

• A. So no child is left behind or hit
• B. Insurance
• C. Fuel use
• D. Speed control

How often should evacuation drills be conducted?

• A. Per state law — typically twice per school year
• B. Once a decade
• C. Never
• D. Daily

What is the rule on cell phones for school bus drivers?

• A. Prohibited while driving (federal and state)
• B. OK if hands-free
• C. OK at red lights
• D. OK while loading

When entering a highway with a school bus, you should:

• A. Wait for a large gap; buses accelerate slowly
• B. Force in
• C. Skip signals
• D. Speed onto ramp

When students drop something near the bus, you should:

• A. Have them get adult help — never let them retrieve under bus
• B. Let them grab it
• C. Drive over it
• D. Open door

What is the safest driving practice in school zones?

• A. Slow down well below speed limit and watch for children
• B. Maintain limit
• C. Use horn
• D. Drive normally

When approaching a bus stop, the driver should:

• A. Activate ambers 100-300 ft prior, slow gradually
• B. Slam brakes
• C. No lights
• D. Pull over without warning

What is the "Rear Hazard" zone?

• A. Behind the bus, at least 10 ft, where the driver cannot see children
• B. Inside the bus
• C. Driver compartment
• D. Cargo area

What is the safest position to stop a school bus?

• A. Far enough from edge to keep wheels on pavement, mirrors aligned
• B. On shoulder grass
• C. Half on/off road
• D. In middle of road

Why do many states forbid backing a school bus on school grounds?

• A. Children unpredictable; backing crashes cause many fatalities
• B. Insurance only
• C. Cost only
• D. No reason

What should the driver do if a child is lost or unaccounted for?

• A. Stop, contact school/dispatch, search the bus and route
• B. Continue route
• C. Wait for next stop
• D. Drive faster

When students are loading, the driver should:

• A. Count and watch for late stragglers crossing the road
• B. Look at phone
• C. Skip count
• D. Speed up

What is the "10-foot rule"?

• A. Children should walk at least 10 feet in front of bus when crossing
• B. 10 mph speed limit
• C. 10 ft following distance
• D. 10 students per seat

What should you do at a bus stop on a divided highway?

• A. Same procedure; some states require stops only on student-side
• B. Skip stops
• C. No signal
• D. Leave stop arm down

How often must school bus drivers complete training?

• A. Per state and district requirements (annually common)
• B. Once
• C. Every 5 years
• D. Never

Why are school buses required to be yellow-orange?

• A. High visibility to other drivers
• B. Tradition
• C. Cost
• D. Decoration

How are emergency exits checked?

• A. Open each exit, test alarms, ensure they latch securely
• B. Visual only
• C. Skip
• D. Only at end of year

When are seat belts required on school buses?

• A. Federal rule for small buses; many states for all buses
• B. Never
• C. Always
• D. Driver only

What is the safest practice for unloading at a residential stop?

• A. Wait for traffic to stop, signal students to cross, watch all directions
• B. Wave them across without checking
• C. Open and go
• D. Skip checking

What does the "stop arm" do?

• A. Extends to legally require traffic to stop
• B. Brake
• C. Steering
• D. Door lock

When may traffic pass a school bus with red lights flashing?

• A. Generally never; some states exempt opposite-direction divided highways
• B. Always
• C. When in a hurry
• D. On weekends

How are railroad crossings handled with no warning devices?

• A. Stop, look, listen — even without signals
• B. Slow only
• C. Speed across
• D. Skip

What is "highway/rail grade crossing"?

• A. Where road and rail intersect at same level
• B. Highway bridge
• C. Tunnel
• D. Off-ramp

When fueling a school bus with passengers, you should:

• A. Not fuel with passengers — let them off and use proper procedure
• B. Fuel quickly
• C. Keep windows open
• D. No problem

Why are mirrors so critical on a school bus?

• A. Many blind spots around children — mirrors save lives
• B. Cosmetic
• C. Cost
• D. Optional

When a child is in the danger zone, the driver should:

• A. Not move the bus until child is clear
• B. Honk and proceed
• C. Move slowly
• D. Tap brakes

What is the "hash mark" reference for school bus loading?

• A. Visual reference point on stop sign or crossing arm to position bus
• B. Tire mark
• C. Crosswalk line
• D. No mark

What about siblings and crossing safety?

• A. Older children should not be relied on to supervise crossing
• B. Older help cross
• C. Only siblings cross
• D. No issue