On a school bus, the overhead inside rearview mirror is used to monitor passenger activity inside the bus. It should be adjusted to show every student on the bus, including the students directly behind the driver.

At bus stops, drivers should warn passengers about potential hazards. This may include warning them to watch their step when exiting the bus by way of lowered stairways.

When stopping a bus at either an intermediate stop or its final destination, the driver should announce the location of the stop, the reason for stopping, the next departure time, and the bus number.

The aisles and stairwells on a bus must always be kept clear. It is important to keep aisles clear so that no passengers trip while using them.

Most newer heavy-duty vehicles use dual air brake systems. A dual air brake system has two separate air brake systems which use a single set of brake controls.

When performing a static leakage test on a triple combination vehicle with air brakes, the leakage rate should be no more than 5 psi in one minute. If the air leaks from the air brake system at a quicker rate, the vehicle should not be driven because something likely needs to be repaired.

There are two air brake systems in a dual air brake system. The systems share a set of brake controls, but each system has its own tanks, hoses, and lines.

You may be asked to complete a conventional parallel parking maneuver into a parking space that is to the right of your vehicle. You should drive past the parking space before backing into it while bringing the rear of your vehicle as close to the rear of the space as possible. Your vehicle should be completely within the boundaries of the space.

Compressed air in an air brake system usually contains a certain amount of water and compressor oil. The water and oil can damage the brakes if left to accumulate in the system. Manually operated air tank drains must be opened daily to remove this build-up.

Because air takes time to flow through the air lines to the brakes, air brakes cannot begin working instantly. There is often a brake lag of at least one-half of a second between the moment the brake pedal is pressed and the moment the brakes begin to work.

It is critical to the safe operation of a school bus that mirrors be properly adjusted. Always check each mirror before operating the bus.

In newer vehicles with air brakes, the parking brake is controlled by a yellow, diamond-shaped knob. The driver should pull the knob outward to apply the parking brakes and push the knob inward to release them.

Maneuvers that may be included in the basic vehicle control skills test include straight line backing, offset back/right parking, offset back/left parking, driver side parallel parking, conventional parallel parking, and alley docking.

If your vehicle has air brakes, the air compressor drive belt should be checked before each drive. Check the tightness of the belt and verify that it is in good condition.

When inspecting a vehicle with a dual air brake system, you should wait for air pressure to build from 85 to 100 psi in both the primary and secondary systems. This should take about 45 seconds.

Before starting down a hill, be sure to switch into a low gear. Gravity will increase your vehicle's speed as you travel downhill.

Most commercial vehicles manufactured after 1998 or 1999 are required to be equipped with Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS). Many older buses are also equipped with ABS.

Components of an air brake system include an air compressor, an air compressor governor, air storage tanks, air tank drains, an alcohol evaporator, a safety valve, a brake pedal, foundation brakes, supply pressure gauges, an application pressure gauge, a low air pressure warning signal, a stop light switch, a front brake limiting valve (on some older vehicles), spring brakes, and parking brake controls.

When arriving at a final destination or intermediate stop, a bus driver should remind passengers to take their belongings with them when exiting the bus. It is best for the driver to make this announcement before the bus comes to a complete stop.

A driver is allowed to exit their vehicle to check its position during any basic vehicle control skills test exercise. This action is called a "look." During the straight line backing exercise, a driver may not exceed one look. During any other exercise, a driver may not exceed two looks.