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10.2.6 – Post-trip Inspection
When your route or school activity trip is finished,
you should conduct a post-trip inspection of the bus.
You should walk through the bus and around the
bus looking for the following:
Articles left on the bus.
Sleeping students.
Open windows and doors.
Mechanical/operational problems with the bus, with
special attention to items that are unique to school
buses – mirror systems, flashing warning lamps
and stop signal arms.
Damage or vandalism.
Any problems or special situations should be
reported immediately to your supervisor or school
authorities.
10.3 – Emergency Exit and Evacuation
An emergency situation can happen to anyone,
anytime, anywhere. It could be a crash, a stalled
school bus on a railroad-highway crossing or in a
high-speed intersection, an electrical fire in the
engine compartment, a medical emergency to a
student on the school bus, etc. Knowing what to do
in an emergency–before, during and after an
evacuation–can mean the difference between life
and death.
10.3.1 – Planning for Emergencies
Determine Need to Evacuate Bus. The first and
most important consideration is for you to recognize
the hazard. If time permits, school bus drivers
should contact their dispatcher to explain the
situation before making a decision to evacuate the
school bus.
As a general rule, student safety and control is best
maintained by keeping students on the bus during
an emergency and/or impending crisis situation, if
so doing does not expose them to unnecessary risk
or injury. Remember, the decision to evacuate the
bus must be a timely one.
A decision to evacuate should include consideration
of the following conditions:
Is there a fire or danger of fire?
Is there a smell of raw or leaking fuel?
Is there a chance the bus could be hit by other
vehicles?
Is the bus in the path of a sighted tornado or rising
waters?
Are there downed power lines?
Would removing students expose them to
speeding traffic, severe weather, or a dangerous
environment such as downed power lines?
Would moving students complicate injuries such as
neck and back injuries and fractures?
Is there a hazardous spill involved? Sometimes, it
may be safer to remain on the bus and not come in
contact with the material.
Mandatory Evacuations. The driver must
evacuate the bus when:
The bus is on fire or there is a threat of a fire.
The bus is stalled on or adjacent to a railroad-
highway crossing.
The position of the bus may change and increase
the danger.
There is an imminent danger of collision.
There is a need to quickly evacuate because of a
hazardous materials spill.
10.3.2 – Evacuation Procedures
Be Prepared and Plan Ahead. When possible,
assign two responsible, older student assistants to
each emergency exit. Teach them how to assist the
other students off the bus. Assign another student
assistant to lead the students to a “safe place” after
evacuation. However, you must recognize that there
may not be older, responsible students on the bus
at the time of the emergency. Therefore, emergency
evacuation procedures must be explained to all
students. This includes knowing how to operate the
various emergency exits and the importance of
listening to and following all instructions given by
you.
Some tips to determine a safe place:
A safe place will be at least 100 feet off the road in
the direction of oncoming traffic. This will keep the
students from being hit by debris if another vehicle
collides with the bus.
Lead students upwind of the bus if fire is present.
Lead students as far away from railroad tracks as
possible and in the direction of any oncoming train.
Lead students upwind of the bus at least 300 feet if
there is a risk from spilled hazardous materials.
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Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
If the bus is in the direct path of a sighted tornado
and evacuation is ordered, escort students to a
nearby ditch or culvert if shelter in a building is not
readily available, and direct them to lie face down,
hands covering their head. They should be far
enough away so the bus cannot topple on them.
Avoid areas that are subject to flash floods.
General Procedures. Determine if evacuation is in
the best interest of safety.
Determine the best type of evacuation:
Front, rear or side door evacuation, or some
combination of doors.
Roof or window evacuation.
Secure the bus by:
Placing transmission in Park, or if there is no shift
point, in Neutral.
Setting parking brakes.
Shutting off the engine.
Removing ignition key.
Activating hazard-warning lights.
If time allows, notify dispatch office of evacuation
location, conditions, and type of assistance
needed.
Dangle radio microphone or telephone out of
driver’s window for later use, if operable.
If no radio, or radio is inoperable, dispatch a
passing motorist or area resident to call for help.
As a last resort, dispatch two older, responsible
students to go for help.
Order the evacuation.
Evacuate students from the bus.
Do not move a student you believe may have
suffered a neck or spinal injury unless his or her life
is in immediate danger.
Special procedures must be used to move neck
spinal injury victims to prevent further injury.
Direct a student assistant to lead students to the
nearest safe place.
Walk through the bus to ensure no students remain
on the bus. Retrieve emergency equipment.
Join waiting students. Account for all students and
check for their safety.
Protect the scene. Set out emergency warning
devices as necessary and appropriate.
Prepare information for emergency responders.
10.4 – Railroad-highway Crossings
10.4.1 – Types of Crossings
Passive Crossings. This type of crossing does not
have any type of traffic control device. You must
stop at these crossings and follow proper
procedures. However, the decision to proceed rests
entirely in your hands. Passive crossings require
you to recognize the crossing, search for any train
using the tracks and decide if there is sufficient clear
space to cross safely. Passive crossings have
yellow circular advance warning signs, pavement
markings and cross-bucks to assist you in
recognizing a crossing.
Active Crossings. This type of crossing has a
traffic control device installed at the crossing to
regulate traffic at the crossing. These active devices
include flashing red lights, with or without bells and
flashing red lights with bells and gates.
10.4.2 – Warning Signs and Devices
Advance Warning Signs. The round, black-on-
yellow warning sign is placed ahead of a public
railroad-highway crossing. The advance warning
sign tells you to slow down, look and listen for the
train, and be prepared to stop at the tracks if a train
is coming. See Figure 10.5.
Figure 10.5
Pavement Markings. Pavement markings mean
the same as the advance warning sign. They consist
of an “X” with the letters “”RR” and a no-passing
marking on two-lane roads.
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Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
There is also a no passing zone sign on two-lane
roads. There may be a white stop line painted on
the pavement before the railroad tracks. The front of
the school bus must remain behind this line while
stopped at the crossing. See Figure 10.6.
Figure 10.6
Cross-buck Signs. This sign marks the crossing. It
requires you to yield the right-of-way to the train. If
there is no white line painted on the pavement, you
must stop the bus before the cross-buck sign. When
the road crosses over more than one set of tracks,
a sign below the cross-buck indicates the number of
tracks. See Figure 10.7.
Figure 10.7
Flashing Red Light Signals. At many highway-rail
grade crossings, the cross-buck sign has flashing
red lights and bells. When the lights begin to flash,
stop! A train is approaching. You are required to
yield the right-of-way to the train. If there is more
than one track, make sure all tracks are clear before
crossing. See Figure 10.8.
Gates. Many railroad-highway crossings have
gates with flashing red lights and bells. Stop when
the lights begin to flash and before the gate lowers
across the road lane. Remain stopped until the
gates go up and the lights have stopped flashing.
Proceed when it is safe. If the gate stays down after
the train passes, do not drive around the gate.
Instead, call your dispatcher. See Figure 10.8.
10.4.3 – Recommended Procedures
Each state has laws and regulations governing how
school buses must operate at railroad-highway
crossings. It is important for you to understand and
obey these state laws and regulations. In general,
school buses must stop at all crossings, and ensure
it is safe before proceeding across the tracks. The
specific procedures required in each state vary.
Figure 10.8
A school bus is one of the safest vehicles on the
highway. However, a school bus does not have the
slightest edge when involved in a crash with a train.
Because of a train’s size and weight it cannot stop
quickly. An emergency escape route does not exist
for a train. You can prevent school bus/train crashes
by following these recommended procedures.
Approaching the Crossing:
Slow down, including shifting to a lower gear in a
manual transmission bus, and test your brakes.
Activate hazard lights approximately 200 feet before
the crossing. Make sure your intentions are known.
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Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
Scan your surroundings and check for traffic behind
you.
Stay to the right of the roadway if possible.
Choose an escape route in the event of a brake
failure or problems behind you.
At the Crossing:
Stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50
feet from the nearest rail, where you have the best
view of the tracks.
Place the transmission in Park, or if there is no Park
shift point, in Neutral and press down on the service
brake or set the parking brakes.
Turn off all radios and noisy equipment, and silence
the passengers.
Open the service door and driver’s window. Look
and listen for an approaching train.
Crossing the Track:
Check the crossing signals again before
proceeding.
At a multiple-track crossing, stop only before the first
set of tracks. When you are sure no train is
approaching on any track, proceed across all of the
tracks until you have completely cleared them.
Cross the tracks in a low gear. Do not change gears
while crossing.
If the gate comes down after you have started
across, drive through it even if it means you will
break the gate.
10.4.4 – Special Situations
Bus Stalls or Trapped on Tracks. If your bus stalls
or is trapped on the tracks, get everyone out and off
the tracks immediately. Move everyone far from the
bus at an angle, which is both away from the tracks
and toward the train.
Police Officer at the Crossing. If a police officer is
at the crossing, obey directions. If there is no police
officer, and you believe the signal is malfunctioning,
call your dispatcher to report the situation and ask
for instructions on how to proceed.
Obstructed View of Tracks. Plan your route so it
provides maximum sight distance at highway-rail
grade crossings. Do not attempt to cross the tracks
unless you can see far enough down the track to
know for certain that no trains are approaching.
Passive crossings are those that do not have any
type of traffic control device. Be especially careful at
“passive” crossings. Even if there are active railroad
signals that indicate the tracks are clear, you must
look and listen to be sure it is safe to proceed.
Containment or Storage Areas. If it won’t fit, don’t
commit! Know the length of your bus and the size of
the containment area at highway-rail crossings on
the school bus route, as well as any crossing you
encounter in the course of a school activity trip.
When approaching a crossing with a signal or stop
sign on the opposite side, pay attention to the
amount of room there. Be certain the bus has
enough containment or storage area to completely
clear the railroad tracks on the other side if there is
a need to stop. As a general rule, add 15 feet to the
length of the school bus to determine an acceptable
amount of containment or storage area.
10.5 – Student Management
10.5.1 – Don’t Deal with On-bus Problems
When Loading and Unloading
In order to get students to and from school safely
and on time, you need to be able to concentrate on
the driving task.
Loading and unloading requires all your
concentration. Don’t take your eyes off what is
happening outside the bus.
If there is a behavior problem on the bus, wait until
the students unloading are safely off the bus and
have moved away. If necessary, pull the bus over to
handle the problem.
10.5.2 – Handling Serious Problems
Tips on handling serious problems:
Follow your school’s procedures for discipline or
refusal of rights to ride the bus.
Stop the bus. Park in a safe location off the road,
perhaps a parking lot or a driveway.
Secure the bus. Take the ignition key with you if
you leave your seat.
Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender or
offenders. Speak in a courteous manner with a firm
voice. Remind the offender of the expected
behavior. Do not show anger, but do show that you
mean business.
If a change of seating is needed, request that the
student move to a seat near you.
Never put a student off the bus except at school or
at his or her designated school bus stop. If you feel
that the offense is serious enough that you cannot
safely drive the bus, call for a school administrator
or the police to come and remove the student.
Always follow your state or local procedures for
requesting assistance.
Section 10 – School Buses Page 10-9
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Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
10.6 – Antilock Braking Systems
10.6.1 – Vehicles Required to Have Antilock
Braking Systems
The Department of Transportation requires that
antilock braking systems be on:
Air brakes vehicles, (trucks, buses, trailers and
converter dollies) built on or after March 1, 1998.
Hydraulically braked trucks and buses with a gross
vehicle weight rating of 10,000 lbs or more built on
or after March 1, 1999.
Many buses built before these dates have been
voluntarily equipped with ABS.
Your school bus will have a yellow ABS malfunction
lamp on the instrument panel if it is equipped with
ABS.
10.6.2 – How ABS Helps You
When you brake hard on slippery surfaces in a
vehicle without ABS, your wheels may lock up.
When your steering wheels lock up, you lose
steering control. When your other wheels lock up,
you may skid or even spin the vehicle.
ABS helps you avoid wheel lock up and maintain
control. You may or may not be able to stop faster
with ABS, but you should be able to steer around an
obstacle while braking, and avoid skids caused by
over braking.
10.6.3 – Braking with ABS
When you drive a vehicle with ABS, you should
brake as you always have. In other words:
Use only the braking force necessary to stop safely
and stay in control.
Brake the same way, regardless of whether you
have ABS on the bus. However, in emergency
braking, do not pump the brakes on a bus with
ABS.
As you slow down, monitor your bus and back off
the brakes (if it is safe to do so) to stay in control.
10.6.4 – Braking if ABS is Not Working
Without ABS, you still have normal brake functions.
Drive and brake as you always have.
Vehicles with ABS have yellow malfunction lamps to
tell you if something is not working. The yellow ABS
malfunction lamp is on the bus’s instrument panel.
As a system check on newer vehicles, the
malfunction lamp comes on at start-up for a bulb
check and then goes out quickly. On older systems,
the lamp could stay on until you are driving over five
mph.
If the lamp stays on after the bulb check, or goes on
once you are under way, you may have lost ABS
control at one or more wheels.
Remember, if your ABS malfunctions, you still have
regular brakes. Drive normally, but get the system
serviced soon.
10.6.5 – Safety Reminders
ABS won’t allow you to drive faster, follow more
closely, or drive less carefully.
ABS won’t prevent power or turning skids –
ABS should prevent brake-induced skids but not
those caused by spinning the drive wheels or
going too fast in a turn.
ABS won’t necessarily shorten stopping
distance. ABS will help maintain vehicle control,
but not always shorten stopping distance.
ABS won’t increase or decrease ultimate
stopping power – ABS is an “add-on” to your
normal brakes, not a replacement for them.
ABS won’t change the way you normally brake.
Under normal brake conditions, your vehicle will
stop as it always stopped. ABS only comes into
play when a wheel would normally have locked up
because of over braking.
ABS won’t compensate for bad brakes or poor
brake maintenance.
Remember: The best vehicle safety feature is still
a safe driver.
Remember: Drive so you never need to use your
ABS.
Remember: If you need it, ABS could help to
prevent a serious crash.
10.7 – Special Safety Considerations
10.7.1 – Strobe Lights
Some school buses are equipped with roof-
mounted, white strobe lights. If your bus is so
equipped, the overhead strobe light should be used
when you have limited visibility. This means that you
cannot easily see around you – in front, behind, or
beside the school bus. Your visibility could be only
slightly limited or it could be so bad that you can see
nothing at all. In all instances, understand and obey
your state or local regulations concerning the use of
these lights.
Section 10 – School Buses Page 10-10
Version: July 2017
Commercial Driver’s License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
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