Passenger safety

By the end of this topic you can

• You can load and unload passengers safely, using the right lights and the stop arm on a school bus.
• You can stop correctly at a railway crossing in a bus.
• You can lead an emergency evacuation using the safest exits.
• You can account for every student and check around the bus before moving.
• You can keep doors, aisles and the driver's view clear while driving.

What you need to know and understand

• Never load a bus beyond its licensed capacity (Ontario exempts city buses, which may carry standing passengers).
• Doors must be closed while the bus is moving, and aisles and step wells must be kept clear.
• On an Ontario school bus, flashing amber lights warn of a stop; the red lights and stop arm go on once stopped.
• In Ontario, school buses stop at every railway crossing, and other buses stop at crossings without gates, signal lights or a stop sign.
• At a crossing, stop at least 5 metres from the nearest rail, open the door, and look and listen.
• Ontario school buses practise evacuation at the start of each school year and monthly after that.
• A bus must be inspected within the previous 24 hours, and you must not drive it with a major defect.

School bus stops, step by step

In Ontario, do not use the red lights and stop arm at signal-controlled intersections. If you must use them near an intersection, stop at least 60 metres away.

1. Choose a stop with a clear view of the road for at least 150 metres each way, not on a steep grade or curve.
2. Turn on the flashing amber lights as you approach.
3. Stop on the travelled road, then switch to the flashing red lights and put out the stop arm.
4. Signal students to board or cross only when all traffic has stopped.
5. Students who cross walk about 3 metres in front of the bus, where you can see them.
6. Check the convex crossover mirrors and count students before turning the lights off and moving.

Railway crossings in a bus

Stop at least 5 metres from the nearest rail. Open the door, then look and listen for trains. Do not change gears while crossing, so you cannot stall on the tracks. On a school bus, do not use the flashing lights or stop arm for this stop.

When you need to get everyone off

• Use the front and rear doors where possible; if fire or traffic makes one unsafe, choose the safest exit, including roof hatches or push-out windows.
• Passengers nearest the danger leave first, one seat at a time; others stay seated until their turn.
• Belongings stay on the bus.
• A leader counts passengers and keeps them together at a safe distance.
• Walk the length of the bus to check it is empty before you leave.

Common mistakes

• Pulling away before checking the crossover mirrors, when a child may be in front of the bus.
• Letting passengers stand in the step well or block your view of the mirrors.
• Changing gear on a railway crossing.
• Leaving the driver's seat without stopping the engine, setting the brakes and removing the key.
• Assuming every student is accounted for. If you cannot find one, secure the bus and check around and underneath it.

Test yourself: Passenger safety

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.