After starting your vehicle during the pre-trip inspection, you should watch the gauges. The coolant temperature should gradually rise to a normal operating range.

If you experience a loss of hydraulic pressure in your brakes, you should downshift, pump the brakes, and use the parking brake. Seek an escape route, such as an escape ramp, open field, or side street.

Speeding traffic is the main cause of death and injury in work zones. Drive with special caution when traveling near road workers.

If you must stop on the side of the road, it is important that you turn on your emergency flashers as a warning to other drivers. This is especially important if you are stopped at night.

The top portion of the overhead inside rearview mirror should be positioned to display the top of the bus's rear window. This mirror positioning should allow the driver to see all of the students on the bus, including the heads of the students sitting immediately behind the driver.

The suspension system is responsible for supporting a vehicle, supporting its load, and keeping its axles in place. When inspecting your vehicle, check for damaged or missing spring hangers, spring leaves, shock absorbers, u-bolts, and frame members. Broken parts in the suspension system are extremely dangerous.

If you are involved in a crash, the three basic things you need to do are protect the area, notify the proper authorities, and care for anyone injured. It is important to protect the accident site immediately after the accident occurs to help prevent another crash from happening in the same location.

Many large vehicles have curved, convex mirrors. Convex mirrors allow drivers to see a wider area than flat mirrors. However, they also make objects seem smaller and farther away than they really are.

When checking the oil pressure gauge as part of a vehicle inspection test, you must ensure that it is working. The gauge should show increasing or normal oil pressure, or the oil pressure warning light should turn off. If equipped with one, the oil temperature gauge should begin a gradual rise to the normal operating range.

Signal well in advance of a turn so drivers behind you are aware of your intentions. Keep the signal on throughout the turn and turn it off once the turn is complete.

Backing a large CMV is always dangerous because you will not be able to see everything behind you. If you must back up, use a helper, if possible.

A bus should always stop at any drawbridge that is not controlled by a signal light or traffic control attendant. Stop at least 50 feet before the draw of the bridge, and make sure that it is completely closed before crossing.

Fatigue and lack of alertness are major hazards when driving at night. Most people are the least alert at night, especially after midnight.

A steering wheel with play of more than 10 degrees may be defective. On a 20-inch wheel, this is equal to about two inches of movement at the rim of the wheel.

You should always inspect the outside of your bus before driving. During this inspection, make sure to close all emergency exits and access panels.

Loads that are over-length, over-width, and/or overweight may require special permits. Such vehicles are usually only allowed to be driven at certain times.

If your vehicle begins to hydroplane, do not apply the brakes. Instead, release the accelerator and push in the clutch. This will slow down your vehicle and help it regain traction.

More students are killed each year during loading or unloading of school buses than while riding on school buses. Therefore, it is critical that school bus drivers follow appropriate safety procedures during loading and unloading. The process must be properly supervised and done with care.

Parking brakes should always be checked before driving as a part of your pre-trip inspection. If the parking brakes do not hold, the vehicle is faulty and should be fixed.

If your vehicle "pulls" to one side when braking, you may have brake trouble. If there is an issue with your brakes, you should fix the issue before driving. Operating an unsafe vehicle is against federal and state laws.