Massachusetts CDL DMV Endorsement Bus 2

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

The outside right and left side convex mirrors on a school bus should be positioned so that the driver can see the fronts of the rear tires touching the ground; each side of the bus up to the mirror mounts; and at least one traffic lane on either side of the bus.

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.

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 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.

A driver uses a look when they open their door, leave their seated position, and walk to the back of the vehicle to check its position. During the straight line backing exercise, a driver may not exceed one look. During any other exercise, a driver may not exceed two looks.

A driver is allowed to exit their vehicle to check its position during any basic control skills test exercise. This action is called a "look." During the straight line backing exercise, a driver may not exceed one look. During any other exercise, a driver may not exceed two looks.

More students are killed each year while getting on or off school buses than while riding as passengers on board school buses.

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.

On a school bus, outside convex mirrors should be adjusted to allow the driver to see at least one traffic lane on either side of the bus, the entire side of the bus up to the mirror mounts, and where the front of each rear tire touches the ground.

If you drive over a bridge during the on-road driving skills test, the examiner may ask you afterwards to recall the bridge's posted weight limit.

During the straight line backing exercise, you are permitted to exit your vehicle to check its position no more than one time.

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.

Crossover mirrors are used to help a school bus driver see the danger zone area directly in front of the 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.

When dropping children off at a school, the bus driver should secure the bus by turning off the ignition. The driver should remove the key if they leave the driver's compartment.

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.

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

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.

When being stopped to load students, a school bus should stop at least 10 feet away from the waiting students. This forces the students to walk toward the bus, making it easier for the driver to keep track of their movements.

If students are evacuated due to a school bus being in the direct path of a sighted tornado, the driver should lead them to shelter in a nearby building. If no such shelter is available, the driver should escort them to a nearby ditch or culvert. They should avoid areas that may be subject to flash flooding and should be far enough from the bus that it would not fall on them if it tipped over.