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Approaching the stop, loading and unloading on the route

School Bus (S)5 minManual section 10.2–10.2.3

More students die each year getting on or off a school bus than riding inside one. That is why the stop procedure is a fixed routine: the same lights, the same checks, the same count, every single time.

Why loading and unloading is so dangerous

Each year, boarding and leaving the bus kills more students than riding inside it does. Knowing what to do before, during and after loading and unloading saves lives. The steps below are a general overview; you must learn and obey your state's own laws for loading and unloading.

Approaching the stop

Each school district sets official routes and stops. Stops should be approved by the district before you use them. Never move a bus stop without written approval from the right district official.

Use extreme caution and follow all laws on mirrors, alternating flashing lights, and (if equipped) the stop arm (stop signal arm) and crossing control arm. When approaching:

  • Approach slowly and carefully. Look for pedestrians, traffic and objects before, during and after stopping. Check all mirrors continuously.
  • Turn on the alternating flashing amber warning lights at least 200 feet (about 5–10 seconds) before the stop, or as state law says.
  • Turn on the right turn signal about 100–300 feet (about 3–5 seconds) before pulling over.
  • Keep checking mirrors to watch the danger zones. Move as far right as possible on the traveled part of the road.

Making the stop

  • Stop completely so the front bumper is at least 10 feet from the waiting students. This makes them walk to the bus, so you can see them better.
  • Put the transmission in Park (or Neutral if there is no Park) and set the parking brake at every stop.
  • Turn on the alternating red lights when traffic is a safe distance away, and make sure the stop arm is out.
  • Make a final check that all traffic has stopped before you fully open the door and signal students to come.

Loading on the route

Students should wait in a set place, facing the bus as it comes, and board only when you signal. Watch all mirrors the whole time.

  • Count the students at the stop and make sure all of them board. Learn their names if you can. If one is missing, ask the other students where that student is.
  • Students board slowly, in single file, using the handrail. Turn the dome light on when loading in the dark.
  • Wait until students are seated and facing forward before moving.
  • Check all mirrors. Make sure no one is running to catch the bus.
  • If a student outside is missing from your count, secure the bus and take the key with you, then look around and beneath the bus.

When everyone is accounted for, leave in this order: close the door → engage the transmission → release the parking brake → turn off the alternating red lights → turn on the left turn signal → check all mirrors again → let congested traffic clear. Then, when safe, enter traffic and continue.

At the school campus, loading is almost the same, but you should turn off the ignition, remove the key if you leave the driver's seat, and stand where you can supervise loading as your state or district requires.

Unloading on the route

Make a safe stop as above. Students stay seated until you tell them to exit. Check all mirrors.

  • Count the students while they unload so you know where every student is before you pull away.
  • Have students get off and move at least 10 feet out from the bus side, to where you can clearly see every one of them.
  • Check all mirrors again. Make sure no students are around or coming back to the bus.
  • If you cannot account for a student outside, secure the bus and check around and under it.

Leave in the same order as after loading (door, transmission, parking brake, red lights off, left signal, mirrors, let traffic clear).

If you miss a student's stop, do not back up. Follow your local procedure instead.

Students who must cross the road

Students do not always do what they are told, so know the crossing steps and watch closely. A student who must cross should:

  • Walk about 10 feet away from the side of the bus, to where you can see them.
  • Go to a point 10 feet or more ahead of the bumper's right corner, still keeping clear of the front of the bus.
  • Stop at the right edge of the road. You should be able to see the student's feet.

At the road edge, the student should stop and look in all directions, check that the red flashing lights are still flashing, and wait for your signal.

On your signal, the student should cross far enough in front of the bus to stay in your view, stop at the left edge of the bus and look again for your signal, look for traffic both ways, then cross while still looking in all directions.

Enforce any state or local rules on how students act outside the bus.

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: 10.2–10.2.3

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. More students are killed each year:
    1. As passengers inside the bus
    2. While getting on or off the bus
    3. While walking to school
    4. In school parking lots
    Show answer
    While getting on or off the bus

    More students die getting on or off a school bus than riding inside it.

  2. You want to move a bus stop to a safer place. You should:
    1. Move it and tell the parents
    2. Move it if the students agree
    3. Move it only during bad weather
    4. Get written approval from the school district official first
    Show answer
    Get written approval from the school district official first

    Never change a bus stop location without written approval from the proper school district official.

  3. When approaching a stop, when should you turn on the alternating flashing amber lights (if equipped)?
    1. At least 200 feet or about 5–10 seconds before the stop
    2. After the bus stops
    3. 50 feet before the stop
    4. When the door opens
    Show answer
    At least 200 feet or about 5–10 seconds before the stop

    Activate the amber lights at least 200 feet or about 5–10 seconds before the stop, or as state law requires.

  4. When should you turn on the right turn signal before pulling over at a stop?
    1. 1,000 feet before
    2. Only after stopping
    3. About 100–300 feet or 3–5 seconds before
    4. Never; use the amber lights only
    Show answer
    About 100–300 feet or 3–5 seconds before

    Turn on the right turn signal about 100–300 feet or 3–5 seconds before pulling over.

  5. When stopping, how far should the front bumper be from the students waiting at the stop?
    1. Right next to them
    2. At least 10 feet away
    3. At least 50 feet away
    4. At least 100 feet away
    Show answer
    At least 10 feet away

    Stop with the front bumper at least 10 feet from the students so they must walk to the bus where you can see them.

  6. Why should the bus stop at least 10 feet away from waiting students?
    1. To save fuel
    2. To keep the door clean
    3. To leave room for parents' cars
    4. It makes students walk to the bus, so you can see them better
    Show answer
    It makes students walk to the bus, so you can see them better

    Stopping 10 feet away forces students to walk to the bus, giving you a better view of their movements.

  7. At each stop, after stopping, you should:
    1. Put the transmission in Park (or Neutral) and set the parking brake
    2. Leave it in Drive and hold the brake
    3. Turn off the engine and remove the key
    4. Open the door before traffic stops
    Show answer
    Put the transmission in Park (or Neutral) and set the parking brake

    Place the transmission in Park, or Neutral if there is no Park, and set the parking brake at each stop.

  8. When should you activate the alternating red lights at a stop?
    1. 200 feet before the stop
    2. When the first student boards
    3. When traffic is a safe distance from the bus
    4. After the door closes
    Show answer
    When traffic is a safe distance from the bus

    Activate the alternating red lights when traffic is a safe distance away, and make sure the stop arm is extended.

  9. Before fully opening the door and signaling students to approach, you should:
    1. Sound the horn twice
    2. Make a final check that all traffic has stopped
    3. Turn off the red lights
    4. Release the parking brake
    Show answer
    Make a final check that all traffic has stopped

    Make a final check that all traffic has stopped before opening the door completely.

  10. When approaching a stop, you should move the bus:
    1. To the center of the lane
    2. Onto the sidewalk
    3. Into the left lane
    4. As far right as possible on the traveled portion of the road
    Show answer
    As far right as possible on the traveled portion of the road

    Pull as far right as you can while staying on the traveled part of the road.

  11. While waiting for the bus, students should:
    1. Wait in a designated place facing the bus
    2. Stand at the curb with their backs to traffic
    3. Wait in the road to be seen
    4. Run to the bus as soon as it slows
    Show answer
    Wait in a designated place facing the bus

    Students should wait in a designated location, face the bus as it approaches, and board only when signaled.

  12. During loading, a student who is usually at the stop is missing. You should:
    1. Leave immediately
    2. Wait 10 minutes
    3. Ask the other students where the student is
    4. Drive around the block
    Show answer
    Ask the other students where the student is

    Count students at each stop; if one is missing, ask the other students where the student is.

  13. Students should board the bus:
    1. As fast as possible, two at a time
    2. Slowly, in single file, using the handrail
    3. Through the rear emergency door
    4. Only after the red lights are off
    Show answer
    Slowly, in single file, using the handrail

    Students board slowly, single file, using the handrail. Turn on the dome light when loading in the dark.

  14. When loading students in the dark, you should:
    1. Turn off all inside lights
    2. Use high beams
    3. Flash the hazard lights
    4. Turn on the dome light
    Show answer
    Turn on the dome light

    The dome light should be on while loading in the dark.

  15. Before moving the bus after loading, students should be:
    1. Seated and facing forward
    2. Standing near the door
    3. Seated anywhere, facing any direction
    4. Behind the standee line
    Show answer
    Seated and facing forward

    Do not move until every student is sitting and facing the front.

  16. You cannot account for a student outside the bus. What should you do?
    1. Drive on and call the school later
    2. Honk and wait 1 minute
    3. Secure the bus, take the key, and check around and under the bus
    4. Back up to look
    Show answer
    Secure the bus, take the key, and check around and under the bus

    If a student outside is missing from your count, secure the bus, take the key, and look around and beneath it.

  17. After loading, which is the correct FIRST step in preparing to leave the stop?
    1. Release the parking brake
    2. Close the door
    3. Turn on the left turn signal
    4. Turn off the red lights
    Show answer
    Close the door

    Leave in this order: close door, engage transmission, release parking brake, turn off red lights, left signal, check mirrors, let traffic disperse.

  18. When loading at the school campus, which extra step should you take?
    1. Leave the engine running and walk away
    2. Keep the red lights off
    3. Have students board through the rear door
    4. Turn off the ignition and remove the key if you leave the driver's compartment
    Show answer
    Turn off the ignition and remove the key if you leave the driver's compartment

    At school, turn off the ignition, remove the key if leaving the driver's compartment, and position yourself to supervise.

  19. When unloading on the route, after exiting students should walk at least how far from the side of the bus?
    1. 10 feet
    2. 3 feet
    3. 25 feet
    4. 50 feet
    Show answer
    10 feet

    Students should move 10 feet or more out from the bus side, where you can clearly see them.

  20. Why should you count students while unloading?
    1. To fill out fuel records
    2. To check ticket payments
    3. To confirm where all students are before pulling away
    4. To report attendance to teachers
    Show answer
    To confirm where all students are before pulling away

    Counting while unloading confirms the location of all students before you pull away.

  21. You realize you drove past a student's unloading stop. You should:
    1. Back up carefully to the stop
    2. Not back up; follow local procedures
    3. Let the student off right away in the road
    4. Make a U-turn on the road
    Show answer
    Not back up; follow local procedures

    If you miss a student's unloading stop, do not back up. Follow local procedures.

  22. A student who must cross the road should walk to a point at least how far in front of the right corner of the bumper?
    1. 2 feet
    2. 5 feet
    3. 30 feet
    4. 10 feet
    Show answer
    10 feet

    Crossing students go 10 feet or more ahead of the bumper's right corner, keeping clear of the front of the bus.

  23. At the right edge of the roadway, a crossing student should stop where:
    1. You can see the student's feet
    2. The student can touch the bus
    3. The student is behind the bus
    4. The student is out of your view
    Show answer
    You can see the student's feet

    Students stop at the right edge of the roadway where you should be able to see their feet.

  24. A crossing student reaches the left edge of the bus. What should the student do?
    1. Run across quickly
    2. Wave to drivers
    3. Stop and look again for the driver's signal
    4. Walk back to the bus door
    Show answer
    Stop and look again for the driver's signal

    At the left edge of the bus, the student stops and looks again for your signal before continuing.

  25. Before crossing, a student at the road edge should check that:
    1. The bus engine is off
    2. The red flashing lights on the bus are still flashing
    3. The amber lights are on
    4. The stop arm is folded in
    Show answer
    The red flashing lights on the bus are still flashing

    Students check that the red flashing lights are still flashing and wait for your signal.

  26. A school bus driver can count on students always following the crossing procedure.
    1. True
    2. False
    Show answer
    False

    False. Students might not always do what they are supposed to do, so watch them closely.