During the on-road driving test, you must drive in a safe and responsible manner; wear your safety belt; obey all traffic signs, signals, and laws; and complete the test without any accidents or moving violations.

When inspecting your tires, verify that there is at least 4/32 of an inch of tread depth in every major groove on the front tires, and tread depth of at least 2/32 of an inch on the other tires. Tires on the same vehicle should all be the same size.

The driver's seat on a bus should be equipped with a seat belt. A driver is always required to wear a seat belt while driving a bus.

A broken exhaust system can allow poisonous fumes to enter a vehicle's cab or sleeper berth. Be sure to regularly check your exhaust system for defects.

Commercial drivers are required by federal and state laws to inspect their vehicles before every trip. Regular inspections can help drivers identify issues before they become dangerous and costly.

You should never rely only on warning signals to alert you to an approaching train. Never try to race a train to a crossing. If there are multiple tracks at a crossing, be sure to check all tracks in both directions before starting to cross.

Be cautious when driving near people who are not paying attention to the road. Be wary of road workers, drivers who are engaged in conversation with passengers, and children near the road.

Traction is friction between your tires and the surface of the road. Adequate traction is necessary for braking and steering.

Buses should be inspected at the end of every trip. Key safety items could have been damaged by passengers, so an inspection allows these damages to be repaired before another trip is made.

Retarders help to slow vehicles, reducing drivers' need to use brakes.

Cargo needs to be secured appropriately to prevent it from moving in transit. Cargo should be arranged to keep the vehicle's center of gravity low and well-distributed.

The suspension system holds up the vehicle and its load while keeping the axles in place. Damage to a suspension system can be very dangerous.

The three main factors that determine a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) are the amount of alcohol consumed, how quickly the alcohol is consumed, and the person's weight.

Backing can be dangerous, so avoid doing it whenever you can. If possible, park in such a way that allows you to pull forward to exit your parking space.

Always apply the parking brake when leaving your vehicle.

For safe driving, it is essential that you are aware of what is happening on all sides of your vehicle. In addition to watching the road ahead, you should frequently check your mirrors to monitor the road to the sides and to the rear of your vehicle.

Many charter and intercity carriers have rules about passengers smoking, drinking, and using music players while on the bus. Explaining passenger rules at the start of a trip is often an effective way to avoid trouble later on.

If you must drive in reverse, you should first walk around your vehicle to look at the path of travel and check for obstacles. Because mirrors have blind spots, you cannot rely exclusively on them. It is recommended to use a helper whenever possible.

When exiting your vehicle during the basic vehicle control skills test, you must face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times. If your testing vehicle is a bus, you must maintain contact with the handrail. Exiting the vehicle incorrectly may result in automatic failure of the basic control skills test.

You should accelerate very gradually when driving under conditions that create poor traction.