Driving a bus
Driving a bus is about two things at once: handling a long, heavy vehicle in traffic, and giving passengers, many of them standing or elderly, a safe and comfortable ride. Smoothness is a safety skill, not just good manners.
This page covers the driving skills that change when you move from a car to a bus. Examples come from Ontario's bus handbook; check your own province's handbook for local rules.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can pull into a stop close to the curb and leave it safely.
- You can keep a safe following distance for a heavy passenger vehicle.
- You can allow for rear overhang and off-tracking when turning.
- You can accelerate, brake and steer smoothly enough that standing passengers stay steady.
- You can reverse a bus safely with a spotter.
What you need to know and understand
- In Ontario, commercial motor vehicles over 60 km/h on a highway must stay at least 60 metres behind other vehicles, except when passing.
- Outside cities, towns and villages, Ontario buses travelling in the same direction must keep 60 metres apart, except when passing.
- Passengers should not block your view to the front, sides or rear.
- A long bus swings its rear overhang outward when you turn sharply, while the rear wheels track inside the front wheels.
- Ontario school buses should only reverse in designated places, with a spotter visible in the mirror or after you get out and check.
- Never leave the bus without stopping the engine, setting the brakes, selecting the lowest gear or park, and removing the key.
Serving a stop
- Check mirrors early, signal, and slow down gradually so standing passengers are not thrown forward.
- Pull in close and parallel to the curb so passengers do not step into the road or a gap.
- Stop fully and set the brake before opening the doors.
- Watch the doors and mirrors while people board and leave; close the doors only when the step area is clear.
- Before pulling out, check mirrors and blind areas, signal, and wait for a safe gap.
- Move off gently, watching that no one is running for the bus or standing close to the side.
Space and smoothness
A full bus is heavy and slow to stop, and passengers who are standing have nothing to brace against. Look far ahead, keep a long gap, and plan each stop so you can brake gently over a longer distance. Avoid sudden lane changes and hard steering.
Watch your mirrors often. A bus has large blind areas, and cyclists or pedestrians can move into them at stops. Do not let anyone stand where they block your mirrors or windshield.
Turns and tight spaces
On a right turn, drive further forward than you would in a car before steering, so the rear wheels clear the curb. As you turn, watch both mirrors: the rear wheels cut inside, while the rear corner of the body can swing out over the lane or sidewalk on the other side.
Reversing is where many bus crashes happen. Avoid it where you can by planning routes and turnaround points. When you must reverse, use a spotter standing where you can see them in the mirror, or get out and check the path first.
Common mistakes
- Stopping far from the curb, which makes passengers step down into traffic or a gap.
- Moving off before passengers have sat down or found a handhold.
- Braking late and hard, which can throw standing passengers.
- Forgetting the rear corner swing when pulling away from a stop close to a pole or wall.
- Reversing without a spotter or a walk-around check.
Test yourself: Driving a bus
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Ontario MTO Official Bus Handbook, Following distance, Passengers, Reversing and Safe operation (ontario.ca); Ontario MTO Official Driver's Handbook, Sharing the road with buses (ontario.ca). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with your province or territory.