Properly adjusted flat mirrors on a school bus should allow the driver to see 200 feet behind the bus, the base of each rear wheel, and the sides of the bus.

You should finish each exercise with your vehicle in the exact position described by the examiner. You can be penalized for failing to complete an exercise exactly in the manner described by the examiner, potentially resulting in failure of the basic control skills test.

While all sides of a school bus have danger zones, the left side is particularly hazardous to students due to the presence of passing vehicles.

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.

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.

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.

After students have exited a bus at a school, the driver should walk through the bus to check for any remaining students who are hiding or sleeping. Drivers should also look out for items that students may have left behind.

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.

During emergency situations, it is usually safest for students to remain on a school bus. Evacuations are mandatory if the bus has stalled on railroad tracks, if the bus is on fire or there is a threat of fire, or if there is a hazardous materials spill. Students should be evacuated any time there is imminent danger of collision.

When inspecting an enclosed trailer as a part of the vehicle inspection test, check the front area of the trailer for signs of damage, such as cracks, bulges, or holes.

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.

During the external inspection portion of the pre-trip vehicle inspection test, you must verify that the steering box is securely mounted and not leaking.

Outside convex mirrors on a school bus are located below the outside flat mirrors. They are used to see a wide view of traffic, clearance, and students around the bus.

During the on-road driving skills test, make sure you do not put your vehicle over curbs, sidewalks, or lane markings. Stop behind stop lines, crosswalks, or stop signs. On multiple-lane roads, complete turns in the proper lane. Always move to or remain in the rightmost lane, unless the lane is blocked.

You must drive in a safe and responsible manner during the on-road driving test. This includes wearing your safety belt; obeying all traffic signs, signals, and laws; and completing the test without an accident or moving violation.

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.

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.

When checking a cargo lift as part of your vehicle inspection test, you should check for leaking, damaged, or missing parts. The lift must be fully retracted and latched securely.

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.

While taking the on-road driving skills test, check for traffic and use your mirrors regularly, especially when encountering intersections. Scan and check for pedestrians in areas where they may be present.