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School bus danger zones and mirrors

School Bus (S)4 minManual section 10.1

Small children can stand right next to a school bus and still be invisible to the driver. The danger zones and the mirror system are the heart of school bus safety. This lesson explains how far each zone reaches and exactly what each mirror must show.

Local rules matter

State and local laws control much of school bus operation, so many procedures in this section differ from state to state. You must know the laws of your state and your local school district.

The danger zones

The danger zone is the space all around the bus where a child faces the greatest risk of being struck, by another vehicle or by their own bus.

  • Front: up to 30 feet from the front bumper. The first 10 feet are the most dangerous.
  • Left and right sides: 10 feet out from each side.
  • Rear: 10 feet behind the rear bumper.

The area to the left of the bus is always dangerous because of passing cars.

Mirror adjustment

Correct adjustment and use of all mirrors lets you watch the danger zones for students, traffic and objects. Check each mirror before you drive to get the widest view. If a mirror is wrong, have it adjusted before you go.

Outside flat mirrors (left and right)

The flat mirrors sit at the left and right front corners, at the side or front of the windshield. They show traffic, clearances and students along the sides and to the rear.

They have blind spots right below and in front of each mirror and directly behind the rear bumper. The blind spot behind the bus runs 50 to 150 feet and can reach 400 feet, depending on the bus's length and width.

Adjust them so you can see:

  • 200 feet (about 4 bus lengths) behind the bus.
  • Along the sides of the bus.
  • The rear tires touching the ground.

Outside convex mirrors

The convex mirrors are below the flat mirrors. They show the left and right sides at a wide angle: traffic, clearances and students beside the bus. Objects in them do not show true size or distance.

Position them to see:

  • The entire side of the bus up to the mirror mounts.
  • The front of the rear tires touching the ground.
  • At least one traffic lane on each side of the bus.

Outside crossover mirrors

The crossover mirrors are on the left and right front corners. They show the front bumper danger zone that you cannot see directly, plus the danger zone on the left side and the right side, including the service door and front wheel area. Like convex mirrors, they do not show true size and distance.

Adjust them so you can see:

  • Everything ahead of the bus, starting at the front bumper at ground level and reaching to where your direct vision picks up. Direct vision and mirror vision should overlap.
  • The right and left front tires touching the ground.
  • The space between the front of the bus and the service door.

Check the crossover, convex and flat mirrors in a logical sequence every time, so no child or object is missed in any danger zone.

Overhead inside rearview mirror

This mirror is above the windshield on the driver's side. It is for watching passenger activity inside the bus. If the bus has a glass-bottomed rear emergency door, it may give a limited view directly behind the bus.

It has a blind spot directly behind the driver's seat and a large blind spot that starts at the rear bumper and can reach 400 feet or more behind the bus. Use the outside side mirrors to watch traffic coming into that area.

Set it so the rear window's top edge sits at the top of the mirror, and all students, including the heads of the students right behind you.

Check your state

School bus rules are set mostly by state and local law, so the exact steps can differ where you live. This lesson teaches the national manual procedure. Check your state manual and your school district rules too.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 10.1

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. How far can the danger zone extend in front of a school bus?
    1. 10 feet
    2. 20 feet
    3. 30 feet
    4. 50 feet
    Show answer
    30 feet

    The front danger zone may extend 30 feet from the front bumper, with the first 10 feet the most dangerous.

  2. Which part of the front danger zone is the most dangerous?
    1. The first 10 feet from the bumper
    2. The area 20 to 30 feet ahead
    3. The area beyond 30 feet
    4. The area under the mirrors
    Show answer
    The first 10 feet from the bumper

    The first 10 feet in front of the bumper are the most dangerous.

  3. How far does the danger zone extend from each side and behind the rear bumper?
    1. 5 feet
    2. 10 feet
    3. 15 feet
    4. 30 feet
    Show answer
    10 feet

    The danger zone extends 10 feet from the left and right sides and 10 feet behind the rear bumper.

  4. Why is the area to the left of the bus always considered dangerous?
    1. The service door is there
    2. The fuel tank is there
    3. Students line up there
    4. Passing cars
    Show answer
    Passing cars

    The left side is always dangerous because of passing cars.

  5. The danger zone is the area where children are most likely to be hit by:
    1. Only other vehicles
    2. Only their own bus
    3. Another vehicle or their own bus
    4. Falling objects
    Show answer
    Another vehicle or their own bus

    Children in the danger zone can be hit by other vehicles or by their own bus.

  6. When should you check each mirror on a school bus?
    1. Before operating the bus
    2. Only at the end of the route
    3. Only when a student complains
    4. Once a month
    Show answer
    Before operating the bus

    Check each mirror before operating the bus to get the widest view, and have it adjusted if needed.

  7. Properly adjusted outside flat mirrors let you see how far behind the bus?
    1. 100 feet
    2. 200 feet (about 4 bus lengths)
    3. 400 feet
    4. 50 feet
    Show answer
    200 feet (about 4 bus lengths)

    Flat mirrors should show 200 feet or 4 bus lengths behind the bus.

  8. With the outside flat mirrors adjusted correctly, you should be able to see:
    1. The front bumper at ground level
    2. The heads of students behind you
    3. The service door
    4. The rear tires touching the ground
    Show answer
    The rear tires touching the ground

    Flat mirrors should show 200 feet behind, along the sides, and the rear tires touching the ground.

  9. The blind spot directly behind a school bus can extend:
    1. Up to 10 feet
    2. Up to 30 feet
    3. 50 to 150 feet, and up to 400 feet
    4. Only to the rear bumper
    Show answer
    50 to 150 feet, and up to 400 feet

    Behind the bus there is a 50–150 foot blind spot, which can reach 400 feet on a long, wide bus.

  10. Where are the outside convex mirrors located?
    1. Below the outside flat mirrors
    2. Above the windshield inside
    3. On the rear bumper
    4. On the stop arm
    Show answer
    Below the outside flat mirrors

    Convex mirrors are located below the outside flat mirrors.

  11. Outside convex mirrors should show at least how many traffic lanes on each side of the bus?
    1. None
    2. One
    3. Two
    4. Three
    Show answer
    One

    Convex mirrors should show at least one traffic lane on either side of the bus.

  12. What is true about the view in convex mirrors?
    1. Objects appear exactly their real size
    2. They show only the area behind the bus
    3. They are used to watch students inside the bus
    4. People and objects do not appear at their true size and distance
    Show answer
    People and objects do not appear at their true size and distance

    Convex mirrors give a wide view but do not show true size and distance.

  13. Convex mirrors should be positioned to see the entire side of the bus up to:
    1. The rear bumper only
    2. The roof hatch
    3. The mirror mounts
    4. The stop arm
    Show answer
    The mirror mounts

    Convex mirrors should show the entire side of the bus up to the mirror mounts.

  14. Which mirrors let you see the area directly in front of the bus that you cannot see directly?
    1. Crossover mirrors
    2. Flat mirrors
    3. Overhead inside mirror
    4. Rear-door mirror
    Show answer
    Crossover mirrors

    Crossover mirrors show the front bumper danger zone not visible by direct vision.

  15. When crossover mirrors are adjusted properly:
    1. They show 200 feet behind the bus
    2. They show the students' heads behind you
    3. They replace the need for direct vision
    4. Direct vision and mirror view should overlap
    Show answer
    Direct vision and mirror view should overlap

    Crossover mirrors should show from the bumper at ground level to where direct vision begins, with the views overlapping.

  16. Crossover mirrors should let you see the area from the front of the bus to:
    1. The rear bumper
    2. The service door
    3. The fuel cap
    4. The emergency roof hatch
    Show answer
    The service door

    Crossover mirrors must cover the front of the bus back to the service door, plus both front tires where they meet the ground.

  17. What is the main use of the overhead inside rearview mirror?
    1. To watch traffic behind the bus
    2. To check the front tires
    3. To monitor passenger activity inside the bus
    4. To see the stop arm
    Show answer
    To monitor passenger activity inside the bus

    The overhead inside mirror is used to monitor passengers inside the bus.

  18. The overhead inside mirror should be set so the top edge of the rear window shows at the top of the mirror, and so you can also see:
    1. All students, including the heads of those right behind you
    2. The rear tires
    3. The left traffic lane
    4. The front bumper
    Show answer
    All students, including the heads of those right behind you

    Aim it so the rear window's top edge is at the top of the mirror and every student is visible, even the heads just behind you.

  19. The overhead inside mirror has a blind spot directly behind the driver's seat and a large blind spot that starts at the rear bumper. To watch traffic in that rear area you should use:
    1. The crossover mirrors
    2. The dome light
    3. A student lookout
    4. The exterior side mirrors
    Show answer
    The exterior side mirrors

    Use the exterior side mirrors to monitor traffic approaching and entering the rear blind spot (which can reach 400 feet or more).