When stopped at a railroad crossing while operating a school bus, do not rely only on signals to tell you if a train is approaching. You should silence all passengers, open the front door, and look and listen for trains. After a train has passed, you should check for another train approaching from either direction before you proceed across the tracks.

During the vehicle inspection test, you must use a tire gauge to check for proper tire inflation. You will not receive passing credit if you simply kick the tires.

The driver of a school bus should observe students as they enter or exit the bus to ensure that they are not caught in the door or handrails. It is also important to make sure the students have moved a safe distance away from the unloading area after they have exited the bus.

If a school bus is equipped with alternating flashing amber warning lights, they should be activated at least 200 feet (approximately 5 to 10 seconds) before a stop, unless state law requires otherwise.

If it is necessary to evacuate a school bus, students should be led by the driver in the direction of oncoming traffic to a safe location that is at least 100 feet off the road. This will help to ensure that they are not hit by flying debris if another vehicle hits the bus.

While students are boarding a school bus, if the driver cannot account for a student outside, they should secure the bus, take the key with them, and check around and underneath the bus for the missing student.

A school bus driver should always approach bus stops slowly and cautiously.

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.

Anti-lock brakes are meant to keep a vehicle's wheels from locking up during hard applications. If your vehicle's Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) malfunctions, its standard braking functions should still be in place. You should continue to drive and brake in a normal manner.

During the on-road driving test, you must not stop, change gears, pass another vehicle, or change lanes while any part of your vehicle is in a railroad crossing.

During the vehicle inspection test, you should check that the drive shaft is not bent or cracked.

After students unload at school, a school bus driver should walk through the bus to check for sleeping students, hiding students, and items that students may have left behind. Students should exit the bus in an orderly fashion with the driver supervising.

If you are asked to alley dock, you should first pull past the alley and stop your vehicle in a position that is parallel to the outer boundary. From there, you should back your vehicle entirely into the alley parking area. Your vehicle should be parked in a straight position within the boundaries of the parking space.

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.

During the vehicle inspection test, you will be asked to do a complete inspection of your vehicle. You will need to explain what you are inspecting and why.

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

Students should always board a school bus in a single-file line.

Students who are about to unload a school bus should remain seated until the driver tells them that it is safe to exit. After exiting the bus, they should walk to a position that is at least 10 feet away from the bus so the driver can clearly see them.

Railroad crossings with control devices to regulate traffic are known as active crossings. Control devices may include regulators such as flashing red lights, warning bells, and gates. Drivers are required by law to follow instructions given by control devices.

During the on-road driving test, the examiner will be score you on specific driving maneuvers as well as on your general driving behavior. You must drive in a safe and responsible manner; obey all traffic signs, signals, and laws; and not cause an accident or commit a moving violation.