Series 2-2d: Loading and Unloading – General Procedures

The free Alberta school bus practice test features questions on the “Loading and Unloading – General Procedures” chapter, designed to assess a driver’s understanding of essential safety steps.

Alberta School Bus Test - SERIES 2-2d: Loading and Unloading – General Procedures

1 / 30

On a road divided by a median, when a school bus is loading or unloading, who is required to stop?

All traffic in both directions

Only traffic approaching from the front

No traffic is required to stop

Only traffic approaching from the rear of the bus

2 / 30

What should you do after the last passenger is seated?

Release park brake with door open, then select gear

Start moving, then close the door

Close the door, ensure passengers remain seated, select gear, release park brake

Select gear with door open, then load more passengers

3 / 30

Why should buses be in position for afternoon pickup before passengers are dismissed?

To allow drivers to leave early

To avoid pre-trip inspections

To save fuel

To reduce movement of buses while large numbers of students are present

4 / 30

For a normal safe stop with trained passengers waiting properly, how far from the nearest passenger should you stop?

Three metres

Two metres

Half a metre

One metre

5 / 30

What is a key ongoing responsibility of the bus operator around the bus?

Monitor only the traffic behind the bus

Constantly monitor what is going on and be prepared for the unexpected

Focus only on the route sheet

Watch passengers only while they are seated

6 / 30

In school yards at the end of the day, how should you approach the pickup/drop-off location?

Avoid entering the yard

Proceed with caution and, if necessary, stop before the designated stop until things calm down

Sound the horn repeatedly to move students

Drive quickly to clear the area

7 / 30

How should passengers cross the road relative to the bus at T intersections?

Mid-block before the bus leaves

Behind the bus while it is stopped

Immediately in front of the bus while it is stopped

At an intersection and crosswalk after the bus has left

8 / 30

What is the time of greatest danger for your passengers?

Passenger loading and unloading

Parking in the yard

Highway cruising

Pre-trip inspection

9 / 30

When performing a lane change to the right, what must you do before moving?

Mirror check only

Signal right only

Shoulder check only

Mirror check, shoulder check, signal right, and move when safe

10 / 30

What does fully opening the door usually signal to passengers?

They should remain in the safety zone

They may begin crossing behind the bus

They may begin boarding (as previously agreed)

They should move away from the bus

11 / 30

Why must extreme caution be used when passengers are crossing at intersections with alternately flashing lights?

Drivers turning the corner may not see the lights or the passenger

Turning drivers are always required to stop

Pedestrians are fenced off from turning vehicles

The bus blocks all drivers’ views completely

12 / 30

At drop-off for a special-needs child, what must the bus operator ensure?

The child is left at the curb regardless of supervision

The child gains entry to the home/business/school and a responsible person acknowledges receiving the child

The child exits the bus, then the bus may leave immediately

The child walks away in any direction independently

13 / 30

Why must you secure the bus even if it has an automatic transmission with a park position?

There is still a risk the bus could move while passengers are loading or unloading

It saves fuel

It makes steering easier

It is only for comfort

14 / 30

When training passengers, when are they allowed to move toward the bus?

As soon as they see the bus signal light

Only after the door is fully opened and you have given the agreed signal

When other passengers start moving

When the bus first stops

15 / 30

When stopping to load passengers who are playing and pushing as you approach, where should you stop initially?

One metre from the passengers

Directly beside the passengers

Five metres in front of the passengers

At least three metres away from the passengers

16 / 30

In an urban area where alternately flashing lights are allowed, what is generally the safest location for a stop?

Directly in the middle of an intersection

On a sharp curve

At a crosswalk on a divided highway

Mid-block on a road not divided by a median

17 / 30

When special routing is required due to age or medical needs of a passenger, what is your responsibility?

Refuse to pick up that passenger

Change the routing yourself without telling anyone

Confirm with your supervisor that the routing information is correct and safe

Let the passenger decide the stop location

18 / 30

Which guiding principle applies during loading/unloading?

Perform several tasks at once to save time

Focus only on traffic, not passengers

Do one thing at a time and never lose sight of your passengers

Trust that children will always follow rules

19 / 30

In terms of stop locations, where are most school bus stops (when alternately flashing lights are not used) normally placed?

Mid-block on all routes

Just through or past an intersection

At the start of every curve

In the middle of a busy intersection

20 / 30

What is the correct order to secure the bus during loading or unloading?

Transmission in neutral only, no park brake

Foot on brake only, leave in drive, keep signal on

Park brake on only, do not change gear

Park brake on, transmission in neutral, foot firmly on the foot brake, cancel signal

21 / 30

Before moving the bus after loading, what is the correct mirror-check sequence?

Right side mirror, crossover mirror, left mirror for traffic

Crossover mirror only

Left mirror, right mirror, crossover mirror

Left mirror only

22 / 30

If alternately flashing lights are to be used in an urban area and the route planner indicates an intersection stop, where should it be located?

After the crosswalk on the far side

Just prior to crossing the intersection and before the crosswalk

Halfway down the next block

In the middle of the intersection

23 / 30

Why is stopping just before an intersection or crosswalk preferable on a divided road when passengers must cross?

It lets them cross faster mid-block

It reduces the need for mirrors

They can cross using the intersection or crosswalk, not relying on flashing lights for the far side

The median stops all traffic automatically

24 / 30

Why must you never become complacent with passengers’ behavior?

Other drivers are always predictable

A child who has behaved safely many times might suddenly do something unpredictable and dangerous

Rules never change

Children always behave the same way

25 / 30

What should passengers be trained to do before boarding?

Walk toward the bus as soon as it slows down

Approach the bus as soon as the amber lights come on

Wait in the designated safety zone until signaled to approach

Wait anywhere along the roadway

26 / 30

What is generally preferred for loading/unloading children with special needs?

Door-to-door loading and unloading where practical

Loading at a busy intersection

Having them cross a major road alone

Having them walk to a central corner stop

27 / 30

For young children with special needs, what is the general rule about crossing a road?

They should cross mid-block to shorten distance

They should always cross behind the bus

They may cross alone if they know the route

They should never be required to cross unless accompanied by a responsible person

28 / 30

If a mid-block stop appears on your route sheet, what should you do?

Always move it to the nearest intersection on your own

Discuss it with your supervisor

Ignore it and choose any stop you want

Cancel the stop

29 / 30

Why should you be cautious when stopping near an intersection with alternately flashing lights on?

Cross-street traffic must always stop

The flashing lights do not control traffic on the cross-street

The lights automatically stop all vehicles from all directions

Only pedestrians are controlled by the lights

30 / 30

If a student lives on the opposite side of the street in an urban area, what is the preferred solution?

Allow the student to cross anywhere mid-block

Tell them to run quickly across wherever they exit

Direct the student to cross at an intersection or crosswalk or have the route changed so they do not have to cross

Have them cross behind the bus only

Your score is

These practice questions focus on proper stopping techniques, the use of flashing lights, and checking mirrors before students board or exit the bus. Drivers are also tested on signaling students when it’s safe to cross and ensuring all students have cleared the area before moving. Reviewing these questions helps future drivers learn how to protect students during loading and unloading, making the roads safer and preparing them effectively for the Alberta school bus exam.