A passenger's behavior prevents you from safely driving the school bus. What should you do?
Correct answer: Stop and secure the bus safely, then request authorized assistance.
Use a safe stopping location and follow the school's assistance and discipline procedures. Do not put a student out at an unauthorized location.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 10.5.2, physical PDF page 115. Reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
In an emergency stop with working ABS on your school bus, what should you avoid?
Correct answer: Pumping the brake pedal.
Do not pump the brakes of an ABS-equipped bus in an emergency. Apply the braking force needed to stop safely while maintaining control.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 10.6.3, physical PDF page 116. Reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
What does ABS fail to protect a school bus from?
Correct answer: A skid caused by taking a turn too fast.
ABS helps with brake-induced wheel lock. It does not make excessive cornering speed, close following or poorly maintained brakes safe, and it does not guarantee a shorter stop.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 10.6.5, physical PDF page 116. Reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
Strong crosswinds begin pushing your school bus sideways. What is the appropriate response?
Correct answer: Reduce speed and, if necessary, stop safely and contact dispatch.
The large side area makes the bus vulnerable to wind. Maintain a firm grip, anticipate gusts, slow down and wait in a safe place if conditions require it.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 10.7.2, physical PDF page 116. Reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
As you turn away from a curb, why check the school bus's rear overhang in the mirrors?
Correct answer: Its tail can swing outward toward nearby people or objects.
A long rear overhang can sweep outward during a turn. Check before and during the movement; do not treat a handbook example as an exact clearance for every bus.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 10.7.4, physical PDF page 117. Reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
Your authorized pickup requires unavoidable backing. In what order should you handle students?
Correct answer: Board them before backing, then watch for late arrivals.
At pickup, have all students aboard before unavoidable backing and watch for latecomers. At drop-off, complete any necessary backing before students unload.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 10.7.3, physical PDF page 117. Reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
The route has ended and the bus seems quiet. What must the driver still do?
Correct answer: Walk through and check for sleeping or hiding students.
A physical post-trip check can find a student who is asleep or hidden from the driving position. Also check belongings, exits and visible problems and make required reports.
Source: Colorado Commercial Driver License Manual (06/15/23), Section 10.2.6, physical PDF page 112. Reviewed September 14, 2026. ↗
An Arizona school bus is approaching a highway stop where children will board. What is the minimum advance distance for operating its alternating warning lights?
Correct answer: 100 feet before the stop.
The statute requires the alternating warning signal at least 100 feet before the boarding or alighting stop. For an eight-lamp system, the operational rules distinguish amber approach lamps from red stopped-bus lamps.
Source: A.R.S. 28-930(B): minimum advance warning distance. ↗
An Arizona school bus with an eight-lamp system has stopped on the road to unload children. Which signal change is required?
Correct answer: Switch from amber to red lamps and extend the stop arm.
The stopped-bus procedure changes the eight-lamp system from amber to red and extends the stop arm. Before releasing children who must cross, also confirm that traffic in front and behind has stopped.
Source: R13-13-104(B)(1), (5): stopped-bus signals and crossing traffic. DPS-linked Minimum Standards, Supp. 26-2 (June 30, 2026). Complete R13-13-104(B)/(D), surrounding exceptions and section history checked October 1, 2026; Article 1 school buses, not separate Article 3 vehicles. ↗
At an Arizona school-bus loading stop, what should the driver do with the parking brake and transmission?
Correct answer: Set the parking brake and place the transmission in neutral.
The loading and unloading procedure specifically requires the parking brake set and the transmission in neutral. Holding a pedal is not a substitute for the stated parking-brake step.
Source: R13-13-104(B)(2): parking brake and neutral at passenger stops. DPS-linked Minimum Standards, Supp. 26-2 (June 30, 2026). Complete R13-13-104(B)/(D), surrounding exceptions and section history checked October 1, 2026; Article 1 school buses, not separate Article 3 vehicles. ↗
An Arizona school proposes ordinary passenger stops 400 feet apart. What condition in the school-bus rule permits stops closer than 600 feet?
Correct answer: The school determines that closer stops are necessary for safety.
The normal minimum spacing is 600 feet. The exception depends on the school's safety determination, not simply driver convenience or bus occupancy.
Source: R13-13-104(B)(3): 600-foot spacing and school safety exception. DPS-linked Minimum Standards, Supp. 26-2 (June 30, 2026). Complete R13-13-104(B)/(D), surrounding exceptions and section history checked October 1, 2026; Article 1 school buses, not separate Article 3 vehicles. ↗
Traffic is temporarily quiet beside an Arizona school bus. May the driver unload children on the traffic side to shorten their walk?
Correct answer: No; the traffic-side loading and unloading prohibition still applies.
The operational rule prohibits loading or unloading on the traffic side of the bus. A brief gap in traffic does not change the required safe loading arrangement.
Source: R13-13-104(B)(4): no loading or unloading on the traffic side. DPS-linked Minimum Standards, Supp. 26-2 (June 30, 2026). Complete R13-13-104(B)/(D), surrounding exceptions and section history checked October 1, 2026; Article 1 school buses, not separate Article 3 vehicles. ↗
Outside an intersection, Arizona school-bus passengers must cross the road after unloading. How far ahead of the front bumper must they cross?
Correct answer: At least 10 feet in front.
The rule requires at least 10 feet in front of the bumper at this non-intersection crossing. The driver must hold crossing passengers aboard until front and rear traffic stops, then keep the bus stopped until all have crossed.
Source: R13-13-104(B)(5): non-intersection crossing distance and traffic conditions. DPS-linked Minimum Standards, Supp. 26-2 (June 30, 2026). Complete R13-13-104(B)/(D), surrounding exceptions and section history checked October 1, 2026; Article 1 school buses, not separate Article 3 vehicles. ↗
Near an Arizona intersection with lighted traffic signals, how close may a school bus load or unload passengers under the stated operational rule?
Correct answer: No closer than 100 feet from the signal.
The rule uses 100 feet from the traffic control signal so passengers can cross with that signal before or after the bus proceeds. Do not substitute the distance for an intersection without lighted signals.
Source: R13-13-104(B)(6): 100 feet from a lighted traffic control signal. DPS-linked Minimum Standards, Supp. 26-2 (June 30, 2026). Complete R13-13-104(B)/(D), surrounding exceptions and section history checked October 1, 2026; Article 1 school buses, not separate Article 3 vehicles. ↗
An Arizona intersection has no lighted traffic control signals. What minimum separation does the school-bus rule require for loading or unloading near it?
Correct answer: 50 feet from the intersection.
At an intersection without lighted traffic signals, the specified distance is at least 50 feet so passengers can cross at the intersection. The lighted-signal rule instead uses 100 feet.
Source: R13-13-104(B)(7): 50 feet from an intersection without lighted signals. DPS-linked Minimum Standards, Supp. 26-2 (June 30, 2026). Complete R13-13-104(B)/(D), surrounding exceptions and section history checked October 1, 2026; Article 1 school buses, not separate Article 3 vehicles. ↗
A driver wants to stop on an Arizona interstate's travel shoulder simply to pick up students. Which alternative is consistent with the school-bus rule?
Correct answer: Use an allowed rest area or qualifying frontage-road stop.
Routine loading or unloading stops on the interstate are prohibited. The rule allows a safety rest area and a parallel frontage-road stop where no passenger is allowed to cross a divided highway.
Source: R13-13-104(B)(8): interstate prohibition and frontage-road/rest-area exceptions. DPS-linked Minimum Standards, Supp. 26-2 (June 30, 2026). Complete R13-13-104(B)/(D), surrounding exceptions and section history checked October 1, 2026; Article 1 school buses, not separate Article 3 vehicles. ↗
