CSLB General Building (B) — All Questions

Which of the following hazardous materials is a bus permitted to carry?

• a.A large quantity of explosives in the passenger compartment
• b.Any amount of Division 2.3 poison gas
• c.Small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D✓
• d.Tear gas devices

Buses may carry small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D, emergency shipments of drugs or hospital supplies, and small amounts of some other hazardous materials. Buses are prohibited from carrying explosives, poison gas, tear gas, and most other hazardous materials. Never carry hazardous materials unless you are sure the rules allow it.

What is the total combined weight limit of allowed hazardous materials that a bus may carry?

• a.No more than 500 pounds total, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class✓
• b.No more than 1,000 pounds total
• c.No more than 2,000 pounds total
• d.There is no weight limit

A bus may carry small-arms ammunition, emergency shipments of drugs, chemicals, or hospital supplies, and other allowed hazardous materials only up to 500 pounds total. No more than 100 pounds may be of any one single class. Riders sometimes board with unlabeled hazardous materials, so watch for them.

The standee line on a bus marks the point behind which:

• a.Passengers must remain seated at all times
• b.Standing passengers must stay so they do not block the driver✓
• c.Baggage must be stored
• d.The wheelchair lift operates

Many buses have a line, called the standee line, on the floor near the front. No standing passenger should be allowed forward of that line while the bus is moving. This keeps riders out of the driver's vision and away from the door area.

If a bus does not have a standee line, standing riders must stay behind:

• a.The last row of seats
• b.The rear axle
• c.The middle of the bus
• d.A line even with the back of the driver's seat✓

If your bus has no standee line, no rider should stand forward of a line even with the back of the driver's seat. This protects the driver's vision and keeps passengers safe. Riders must not block your view or the front doorway.

Carry-on baggage on a bus should never be placed where it:

• a.Is under a passenger's own seat
• b.Rests on an empty seat
• c.Blocks the aisle or a doorway✓
• d.Is held on a rider's lap

Baggage and freight must be secured so it does not block the aisle or any exit, fall on someone, or prevent the safe movement of passengers. A blocked aisle or door can trap riders during an emergency. Keep the aisle and doorways clear at all times.

When should you check that passengers are seated or braced before you begin driving?

• a.Before you allow the bus to move from a stop✓
• b.Only on the freeway
• c.Only when carrying children
• d.Never, it is the passengers' responsibility

Before you begin moving, make sure standees are behind the standee line and that riders have a chance to be seated or braced. Sudden acceleration can throw an unprepared passenger down. Announce stops and allow riders time to sit before you accelerate.

A passenger who is drunk or disruptive should generally be discharged:

• a.Immediately at the nearest highway shoulder
• b.At a safe place such as a well-lit stop rather than a dangerous location✓
• c.Only at the final destination
• d.At the next railroad crossing

For everyone's safety, you may need to remove a disruptive or intoxicated rider. However, you should discharge such a passenger at the next scheduled stop or another safe, well-lit place, not at a hazardous or isolated spot. Use good judgment to protect all riders.

Before allowing a passenger off the bus at a stop, you should:

• a.Open the door while still rolling to save time
• b.Let riders exit into moving traffic
• c.Skip the parking brake
• d.Have the bus completely stopped and, if needed, set the parking brake✓

Always bring the bus to a complete stop before opening the door and letting riders off. On a lift-equipped stop or on a grade, set the parking brake. Watch that discharged passengers move safely away from the bus and out of traffic.

When passengers are getting on and off the bus at a stop, you should:

• a.Watch them closely and be alert for slips, trips, or riders reaching under the bus✓
• b.Read your route schedule
• c.Rev the engine to hurry them
• d.Close the door on the last person to save time

Watch riders as they get on and off to prevent falls and injuries. Be especially alert for children or elderly riders who move slowly. Never close the doors or start moving until everyone is safely clear of the doorway and the bus.

You should announce upcoming stops:

• a.Only at the end of the trip
• b.Far enough ahead that riders have time to get ready to exit✓
• c.Only if a rider asks
• d.After the bus has already stopped

Announce stops clearly and far enough in advance that riders have time to move safely to the door and be ready to get off. This prevents last-minute rushing while the bus is stopping. Announcing helps elderly, disabled, and unfamiliar riders especially.

Common types of stops a passenger driver announces include all of the following EXCEPT:

• a.Major intersections and destinations
• b.Transfer points to other routes
• c.The color of the traffic signal ahead✓
• d.Stops required by regulations

Drivers commonly announce major intersections, destinations, transfer points, and any stops required by law or company policy. The color of a signal is not a passenger announcement. Clear announcements help riders prepare to exit safely and on time.

If riders must cross the road after getting off your bus, you should:

• a.Watch to be sure they cross safely before you pull away✓
• b.Pull away immediately so traffic can flow
• c.Honk to make them hurry
• d.Ignore them once they are off the bus

Passengers, especially children, may not check for traffic before crossing. Watch discharged riders and remain stopped until they have crossed safely or moved clear. Pulling away too soon can leave a rider in danger from passing vehicles.

Charter bus drivers should not allow riders on the bus until:

• a.The fuel tank is full
• b.The radio is tuned
• c.Passengers pay a deposit
• d.It is time to leave, to help keep track of who belongs on the bus✓

Charter drivers should not allow passengers on the bus until departure time. This helps prevent unauthorized people from boarding and makes it easier to account for the group. It also keeps the schedule and passenger list under control.

To manage passengers and reduce disruptions, a driver should:

• a.Let riders do whatever they want
• b.Explain the rules about smoking, radios, and safety at the start of the trip✓
• c.Only speak to riders at the destination
• d.Never speak to passengers

Explaining rules about smoking, eating, drinking, loud radios, and using emergency exits at the start of a trip helps prevent problems later. Clear expectations make it easier to keep order. A calm, informed group is easier and safer to manage.

Hazardous materials that riders sometimes try to carry aboard a bus are a concern because:

• a.They make the bus heavier
• b.They are always clearly labeled
• c.They may be brought on without any warning label✓
• d.They improve traction

Riders may unknowingly or intentionally bring hazardous materials such as car batteries or gasoline aboard without proper labels. Watch for leaking, smelly, or unlabeled containers. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, do not let it on the bus.

When counting or accounting for passengers on a charter or tour trip, the driver should:

• a.Keep track so no one is left behind at rest or meal stops✓
• b.Rely only on the tour guide
• c.Never count riders
• d.Assume everyone reboards on time

On charter and tour trips, riders leave the bus at rest stops, meals, and attractions. The driver should help keep track of passengers so no one is left behind when the bus departs. A quick count before pulling away prevents stranding a rider.

Passengers should be discouraged from standing near the front doorway while the bus is moving because:

• a.It is more comfortable to sit in back
• b.They can fall out or interfere with the driver in a sudden stop✓
• c.The heater is stronger there
• d.It slows the bus down

A rider standing at the front door can be thrown against the door or out of the bus in a sudden stop or crash. They can also block the driver's view and controls. Keep standees behind the standee line and away from the door.

Emergency shipments of drugs or hospital supplies carried on a bus:

• a.Are never permitted
• b.May be carried in unlimited amounts
• c.Must be carried in the passenger seating area
• d.Are one of the few hazardous materials a bus may carry within weight limits✓

Buses may carry emergency shipments of drugs, chemicals, or hospital supplies, which are among the few allowed hazardous materials. They still count toward the 500-pound total and 100-pound single-class limits. Materials must be handled and stored safely, not among passengers unsafely.

If a passenger wants to bring a container of gasoline or a car battery onto the bus, you should:

• a.Allow it if it fits under a seat
• b.Allow it only in the aisle
• c.Refuse to allow the hazardous material aboard✓
• d.Store it near the engine

Gasoline, car batteries, and similar hazardous materials are not allowed on buses because they can leak, spill acid, or ignite. Politely refuse to let such items aboard. Passenger safety depends on keeping dangerous materials off the bus.

Standing passengers on a moving bus should:

• a.Hold onto handrails or seat backs for support✓
• b.Stand freely in the aisle without holding on
• c.Lean on the driver's seat
• d.Sit on the steps

Standing riders should hold onto grab rails, straps, or seat backs to keep from falling if the bus stops or turns suddenly. Riders must never sit or stand on the steps. Keeping standees braced and behind the standee line reduces injuries.

Baggage and freight carried in the passenger area must be secured so that:

• a.It blocks only the rear door
• b.Riders are protected from injury if it falls and exits stay clear✓
• c.It rests against the windshield
• d.Passengers can lean on it

Loose baggage can fall and injure riders or block exits during hard braking or a crash. Secure carry-on items so they cannot fall on anyone, and keep aisles and doorways free. Every emergency exit must remain usable at all times.

When you take over a bus at the start of your shift, you should be sure passengers do not:

• a.Sit in the last row
• b.Bring a small bag
• c.Talk to each other
• d.Have brought prohibited hazardous materials aboard✓

Even allowed hazardous materials have strict limits, and many materials are prohibited entirely. Be alert for prohibited items riders may carry aboard, such as fuels or explosives. If you find a prohibited hazardous material, do not allow it on the bus.

Allowing standees forward of the standee line while driving is dangerous mainly because:

• a.It blocks the driver's view and puts riders near the door✓
• b.It uses more fuel
• c.It makes the ride quieter
• d.It helps the bus turn faster

A passenger standing ahead of the standee line can block the driver's view of the road and mirrors and can fall against the door. Keeping standees behind the line preserves the driver's vision and protects the rider. Never move the bus with someone forward of the line.

When unloading passengers at night, you should be especially careful to:

• a.Turn off all interior lights
• b.Open the door before stopping
• c.Make sure the stop is well lit and riders can see where they step✓
• d.Rush riders off quickly

At night, poor visibility raises the risk of trips and falls when riders step down. Stop where the area is well lit if possible and give riders time to exit safely. Watch that they move clear of the bus and traffic before you pull away.

A driver who must eject a disruptive passenger should:

• a.Do it while the bus is still moving
• b.Choose a safe location and stay calm and professional✓
• c.Push the rider off at a freeway ramp
• d.Leave them at an unlit rural stop

Removing a disruptive rider must be done safely and professionally. Stop at a safe, well-lit place such as a scheduled stop, not a dangerous or isolated spot. Staying calm reduces the chance the situation gets worse for you and other riders.

Why should you announce transfer points and major destinations?

• a.To pass the time
• b.Because the law forbids silence
• c.To sell tickets
• d.So riders using connecting routes have time to prepare to get off✓

Announcing transfer points and major destinations lets riders who need connecting service prepare to exit at the right stop. This is especially helpful to riders unfamiliar with the route. Timely announcements reduce confusion and last-second rushing to the door.

The maximum weight of any single class of allowed hazardous material on a bus is:

• a.100 pounds✓
• b.250 pounds
• c.500 pounds
• d.1,000 pounds

A bus may carry allowed hazardous materials only up to 500 pounds total, with no more than 100 pounds of any single class. These limits keep the risk to passengers low. Materials over these limits, or prohibited materials, must never be carried.

To keep order among passengers, a driver's best approach is to:

• a.Ignore rule-breaking until it becomes dangerous
• b.Set clear expectations early and enforce them calmly✓
• c.Let passengers police themselves
• d.Threaten riders loudly

Explaining rules at the start of a trip and enforcing them calmly and consistently keeps order. Passengers respond better to a professional, even-handed driver than to threats or neglect. Handling small problems early prevents them from becoming safety hazards.