section 4 4.1 Flashcards
vehicle inspection
Before driving your bus, you must be sure it is safe. You
must review the inspection report made by the previous
driver. Only if defects reported earlier have been certified
as repaired or not needed to be repaired, should you sign
the previous driver’s report. This is your certification that
the defects reported earlier have been fixed
vehicle systems
Make sure these things are in good working order before
driving:
Service brakes, including air hose couplings (if your bus
has a trailer or semitrailer).
Parking brake.
Steering mechanism.
Lights and reflectors.
Tires (front wheels must not have recapped or re-grooved
tires).
Horn.
Windshield wiper or wipers.
Rear-vision mirror or mirrors.
Coupling devices (if present).
Wheels and rims.
Emergency equipment.
Make sure your bus has the fire extinguisher and emergency
reflectors (3 reflective triangles or at least 6 fusees or 3
liquid burning flares) required by law. The bus must also
have spare electrical fuses, unless equipped with circuit
breakers.
access doors and panels
As you check the outside of the bus, close any open
emergency exits. Also, close any open access panels (for
baggage, restroom service, engine, etc.) before driving.
bus interior
People sometimes damage unattended buses. Always
check the interior of the bus before driving to ensure
rider safety. Aisles and stairwells should always be clear.
The following parts of your bus must be in safe working
condition:
Each handhold and railing.
Floor covering.
Signaling devices, including the restroom emergency
buzzer, if the bus has a restroom.
Emergency exit handles.
The seats must be safe for riders. All seats must be securely
fastened to the bus.
Never drive with an open emergency exit door or window.
The “Emergency Exit” sign on an emergency door must be
clearly visible. If there is a red emergency door light, it must
work. Turn it on at night or any other time you use your
outside lights.
roof hatches
You may lock some emergency roof hatches in a partly
open position for fresh air. Do not leave them open as a
regular practice. Keep in mind the bus’s higher clearance
while driving with them open.
use your seatbelt
the driver should have a seat belt.alway use it
loading and trip start
Do not allow riders to leave carry-on baggage in a doorway
or aisle. There should be nothing in the aisle that might trip
other riders. Secure baggage and freight in ways that avoid
damage and:
Allow the driver to move freely and easily.
Allow riders to exit by any window or door in an emergency.
Protect riders from injury if carry-ons fall or shift.
hazardous materials
Watch for cargo or baggage containing hazardous materials.
Most hazardous materials cannot be carried on a bus.
The Federal Hazardous Materials Table shows which
materials are hazardous. They pose a risk to health, safety,
and property during transportation. The rules require
shippers to mark containers of hazardous material with the
material’s name, identification number, and hazard label.
There are nine different four-inch, diamond-shaped hazard
labels. See Figure 4.1. Watch for the diamond-shaped
labels. Do not transport any hazardous material unless you
are sure the rules allow it.
Hazard Class Definitions
Class Class Name Example
1 Explosives Ammunition, Dynamite, Fireworks
2 Gases Propane, Oxygen, Helium
3 Flammable Gasoline, Acetone
4 Flammable Solids Matches, Fuses
5 Oxidizers Ammonium Nitrate, Hydrogen
Peroxide
6 Poisons Pesticides, Arsenic
7 Radioactive Uranium, Plutonium
8 Corrosives Hydrochloric Acid, Battery Fluid
9 Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials
Formaldehyde, Asbestos
None ORM-D (Other
Regulated
Material -
Domestic)
Hair Spray or Charcoal
None Combustible Liquids Fuel Oils, Lighter Fluid
forbidden hazardous materials
Buses may carry small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D,
emergency hospital supplies, and drugs. You can carry
small amounts of some other hazardous materials if the
shipper cannot send them any other way. Buses must
never carry:
Division 2.3 poison gas, liquid Class 6 poison, tear gas,
irritating material.
More than 100 pounds of solid Class 6 poisons.
Explosives in the space occupied by people, except small
arms ammunition.
Labeled radioactive materials in the space occupied by
people.
More than 500 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials,
and no more than 100 pounds of any one class.
Riders sometimes board a bus with an unlabeled hazardous
material. Do not allow riders to carry on common hazards
such as car batteries or gasoline.
standee line
No rider may stand forward of the rear of the driver’s seat.
Buses designed to allow standing must have a two-inch
line on the floor or some other means of showing riders
where they cannot stand. This is called the standee line. All
standing riders must stay behind it.
at your destination
When arriving at the destination or intermediate stops
announce:
The location.
Reason for stopping.
Next departure time.
Bus number.
Remind riders to take carry-ons with them if they get off the
bus. If the aisle is on a lower level than the seats, remind
riders of the step-down. It is best to tell them before coming
to a complete stop.
Charter bus drivers should not allow riders on the bus until
departure time. This will help prevent theft or vandalism of
the bus.
passenger supervision
Many charter and intercity carriers have passenger comfort
and safety rules. Mention rules about smoking, drinking,
or use of radio and tape players at the start of the trip.
Explaining the rules at the start will help to avoid trouble
later on.
While driving, scan the interior of your bus as well as the
road ahead, to the sides, and to the rear. You may have to
remind riders about rules, or to keep arms and heads inside
the bus.
at stops
Riders can stumble when getting on or off, and when the
bus starts or stops. Caution riders to watch their step
when leaving the bus. Wait for them to sit down or brace
themselves before starting. Starting and stopping should
be as smooth as possible to avoid rider injury.
Occasionally, you may have a drunk or disruptive rider. You
must ensure this rider’s safety as well as that of others.
Don’t discharge such riders where it would be unsafe for
them. It may be safer at the next scheduled stop or a welllighted area where there are other people. Many carriers
have guidelines for handling disruptive riders.
common accidents
The Most Common Bus Accidents. Bus accidents often
happen at intersections. Use caution, even if a signal or
Commercial Driver License Manual - 2019 CDL Testing System
Section 4 - Transporting Passengers Safely Page 61
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stop sign controls other traffic. School and mass transit
buses sometimes scrape off mirrors or hit passing vehicles
when pulling out from a bus stop. Remember the clearance
your bus needs, and watch for poles and tree limbs at stops.
Know the size of the gap your bus needs to accelerate and
merge with traffic. Wait for the gap to open before leaving
the stop. Never assume other drivers will brake to give you
room when you signal or start to pull out.
speed on curves
Crashes on curves that kill people and destroy buses result
from excessive speed, often when rain or snow has made
the road slippery. Every banked curve has a safe “design
speed.” In good weather, the posted speed is safe for cars
but it may be too high for many buses. With good traction,
the bus may roll over; with poor traction, it might slide off the
curve. Reduce speed for curves! If your bus leans toward
the outside on a banked curve, you are driving too fast.
