Before pulling away from a bus stop, a driver should make sure that there are no students running to catch the bus.

When properly adjusted, the outside side flat mirrors on a school bus should allow the driver to see along the sides of the bus; the rear tires touching the ground; and 200 feet behind the bus.

During the vehicle inspection test, you must check the power steering belt, water pump belt, alternator belt, and air compressor belt for snugness, cracks, or frays. If any of these components are not belt-driven, you must tell the examiner which one(s), and verify that they are operating properly, mounted securely, and not damaged or leaking.

If a school bus driver forgets to stop where a student is meant to unload, the driver should not back up to the stop. Instead, they should follow established local procedures.

Students should board a school bus slowly while in a single-file line and holding the handrails.

If you must back up a school bus at a student pick-up point, be sure to pick up all students before you begin backing up. When backing, it is especially important to keep an eye out for latecomers.

It is dangerous for students to retrieve dropped items because doing so could cause them to disappear from the driver's view at a crucial moment. If an item is dropped, the student should get out of the bus's danger zones, get the attention of the driver, and ask the driver to retrieve the item.

You may be asked to complete a parallel parking maneuver into a parking space that is to the left 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.

You will be asked to make multiple lane changes during the driving skills test. Before changing lanes, you should make the necessary traffic checks and use proper signals. Change lanes smoothly when you can do so safely.

During the basic vehicle control skills test, there is no penalty for an initial pull-up; however, an excessive number of pull-ups will count as errors.

On a school bus, the overhead inside rearview mirror is mounted directly above the windshield on the driver’s side of the bus. Its purpose is to allow the driver to monitor passenger activity inside the bus.

On a school bus, the overhead inside rearview mirror is used to monitor passenger activity inside the bus.

If you are asked to complete an offset back/left parking maneuver, you should first pull straight forward, then back up to the left. Your vehicle must be parked completely within the boundaries of the parking space.

Crossover mirrors are used to help a driver see the danger zone area directly in front of a school bus, as well as the danger zone areas to the left and right sides of the bus, including the area from the front of the bus to the service door.

During the vehicle inspection test, you must ensure that any emergency exit warning devices are working. All emergency exits should operate smoothly, be undamaged, and close securely from the inside.

When checking the power steering fluid during the vehicle inspection test, you must be able to indicate where the power steering fluid dipstick is located and show that there is an adequate amount of power steering fluid in the engine compartment. The fluid level must be above the refill mark.

All mirrors on a school bus should be checked and adjusted before beginning a trip. Proper mirror adjustment is vital to the safety of all students and surrounding vehicles.

If you must come to a stop before making a turn during the driving skills test, you should come to a smooth stop behind any stop line, crosswalk, or stop sign. Keep your front wheels aimed straight ahead and do not let your vehicle roll. If stopping behind another vehicle, stop where you are still able to see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead of you.

During the vehicle inspection test, you must be able to indicate where the oil dipstick is located; show that the oil level is within a safe operating range; and show that the oil level is above the refill mark.

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.