Chapter 4: Special safety precautions for school-bus drivers

School-bus drivers must follow special safety precautions to protect their young passengers.

Ontario School Bus Test - Chapter 4: Special safety precautions for school-bus drivers

1 / 15

After returning to the bus to back up without a spotter, what extra precaution should the driver take?

Open the window and listen while backing slowly and cautiously

Turn off the mirrors to avoid distraction

Play a warning announcement inside the bus

Close all windows and accelerate

2 / 15

When stopped at a railway crossing, which of the following is required?

Keep the door closed and shift gears while on the tracks

Activate the stop arm to hold traffic

Open the bus door, look and listen for trains, do not change gears while crossing, and do not activate flashing lights or stop arm

Turn off the engine while on the tracks

3 / 15

Before leaving the school bus, what must the driver always do?

Leave the engine running for faster departure

Turn on the hazard lights only

Only set the parking brake

Stop the engine, set the brakes, place the transmission in lowest gear or park, and remove the ignition key

4 / 15

When loading or unloading students and one cannot be accounted for, what should the driver do first?

Secure the bus and check around and underneath it

Ask another student to look

Immediately drive to the school

Assume the student got off earlier

5 / 15

Where must lunch pails, books, or parcels *not* be placed?

In the aisles or step wells

On students’ laps

On the seat beside the student

In overhead racks

6 / 15

When backing a school bus, where should you back up?

Only in designated locations, including dead-end roads in rural areas

Anywhere, as long as you use mirrors

Only in parking lots

Never under any circumstances

7 / 15

On school grounds or at loading/unloading stops or zones, when may a driver back up the bus?

Only when students are not on board

Never under any circumstances

Only with proper guidance and signals from a responsible person outside the bus

Whenever the driver feels confident

8 / 15

If you must back up in a non-designated location, what is the preferred procedure?

Ask students to shout directions from inside

Have a responsible person assist and give directions from behind the bus, visible in the mirror

Back up quickly to minimize time spent

Rely on the rear-view mirror only

9 / 15

If a school bus is disabled on a roadway when lights are required, where must flares or reflectors be placed?

30 metres (100 ft.) in front and 30 metres (100 ft.) behind the vehicle

Only in front of the bus

Directly beside the front door

Only behind the bus

10 / 15

How far from the nearest rail must a school bus stop at a railway crossing?

Just before the crossing gate

At least five metres (16.5 ft.)

Exactly one metre

Any distance, as long as the bus stops

11 / 15

Who must *never* be permitted to sit in the driver’s seat or operate the vehicle or its controls?

A teacher on a field trip

The head student monitor

Any unauthorized person

A student with parental permission

12 / 15

When a school bus is moving, how should the doors be positioned?

Fully locked at all times

Open slightly for ventilation

Safely closed, but not locked

Open if the bus is not full

13 / 15

For automatic transmission vehicles without a “park” position, how should the vehicle be secured when parked?

Transmission in reverse with no brake set

Transmission in neutral with engine running

Transmission in drive and engine off

Transmission in neutral and parking brake set

14 / 15

If no spotter is available when backing, what must the driver do before reversing?

Ask students if they see anything

Sound the horn three times and proceed

Turn on the interior lights and back up

Leave the bus and check the vehicle path for obstructions

15 / 15

What must a school-bus driver never allow passengers to do?

Talk quietly among themselves

Look out the windows

Sit with seatbelts fastened

Obstruct the driver’s vision to the front, sides, or rear

Your score is

They should conduct thorough pre-trip inspections to ensure the bus is in safe working condition. While driving, maintaining a low speed in school zones and residential areas is essential. Drivers must remain alert for unpredictable children, especially during loading and unloading. Using mirrors to check blind spots and ensuring all students are seated before moving are critical practices. In emergencies, drivers should know evacuation procedures and how to use safety equipment. By following these precautions, school bus drivers create a safe environment and help ensure every child’s safe arrival.