An employer must notify DMV of firing any driver within 5 days.
An employer must notify DMV of hiring any driver within 10 days.
A driver has 15 days to appeal any suspension or revocation of SBD certificate.
5 + 10 = 15; Fire + Hire = Appeal.
CHP issues temporary SBD certificate.
DMV issues permanent SBD certificate.
SBD certificate and driver's license good for 5 years.
DL 51 is the long medical form you turn into your employer.
DL 51A is the green medical card you carry with you..
DL 51A is good for 2 years. School bus drivers, within the same month of reaching the age of 65 and each 12th month thereafter, shall undergo a physical examination, and submit a report.
High blood pressure:
Hypertension stage 1 - B.P. above 140/90 will make a DL 51A only good for one year and a required annual exam thereafter.
Hypertension stage 2 - B.P. above 160/100 the driver is given a one time certification of three months to get their B.P. less than or equal to 140/90. An annual exam required thereafter.
Hypertension stage 3 - B.P. above 180/110 No qualification and six months to get pressure below 140/90. Exam required biannually once 140/90 has been reached and medication is well tolerated.
The first aid card used in lieu of taking the CHP written first aid test shall be good for the term of the license and certificate.
3 hours of behind the wheel training and 5 hours of classroom training to upgrade from SPAB or Transit driver to SBD certificate.
By law, the driver does not have to check anything in the engine compartment of the bus during pretrip. Your district's policy may vary.
The amber approach lights must be activated within 200 feet before a stop.
Exception for amber approach lights - Do not use ambers unless red light crossovers are to be used.
Exceptions for redlight approach lights:
Loading/unloading a wheel chair.
School loading zones - unless students are crossing the street.
Driver helping student into or out of bus.
You are required to have your headlights on at all times while the bus is in motion.
If your bus breaks down within 500 feet of a hill or curve on a 2 lane roadway,you place your emergency reflectors at 10', 100' and no less than 100' or more than 500' in the direction of the hill or curve.
The strobe light may be used when visibility is reduced to 500' or less.
The only hazardous materials allowed to be transported on a school bus are prescribed oxygen and personal use items in possession of a passenger.
CHP is responsible for rules and regulations that pertain to school buses.
If a driver is behind in hours for any training period they have 30 days to make it up. If a second occurrence happens the certificate will be canceled.
The only animals allowed on a school bus are a guide, service, or signal dog.
The CHP approves bus stops, the Superintendent designates bus stops.
Each driver traveling down the highway must ring the vehicle with a circle of safety; the safety circle consists of three rings. The widest being the zone of recognition, the middle ring being the zone of action, and the inner ring is the accident zone.
It is important to have a space cushion in front of the bus when stopped.
You must use a turnout where passing is unsafe and you are traveling at a speed less than the normal flow of traffic and you have 5 or more vehicles behind you.
All applicants for a special driver's certificate to drive a school bus must be fingerprinted by the Department of the California Highway Patrol.
All behind the wheel training must be done by an Instructor or Delegated Behind-The-Wheel Trainer of the appropriate class.
Courses of study must be approved by the Department of Education.
A school bus driver shall be placed out of service for 24 hours if their blood alcohol is .01 or above.
If broke down or involved in an accident and you cannot radio/phone for assistance you would send your oldest, most reliable passenger to a nearby house, place of business, etc. to make the telephone call, only when no pupil can be sent, do you go for aid to summons help.
The driver of a school bus shall not eject any school pupil unless the pupil is given into the custody of a parent or any person designated by the parent or school.
No person shall start a vehicle stopped, standing, or parked on a highway, nor shall any person back a vehicle on a highway until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.
Mandatory denial, suspension or revocation for convictions for:
1. Sex offensives (44010)
2. Marijuana charges within 2 years.
3. Failed testing or training requirements.
Discretionary denial, suspension or revocation for convictions for:
1. Murder, mayhem, attempts to kill, assaults within 7 years.
2. Moral turpitude.
3. Felony convictions.
4. Dismissed for cause relating to school bus.
5. Drugs (not marijuana) within 7 years.
Reapplication may be made after one year from the effective date.
If a driver is convicted of a violation of drugs or alcohol they will lose their certificate and not be able to reapply for 3 years.
Regrooved tires shall not be used on school buses. Recapped tires may not be used on the front axle of a school bus.
A type 1 bus is designed for carrying more than 16 passengers and the driver.
A school bus driver shall not drive more than 10 hours within a 16 hour period or after having been on duty for 80 hours in any 8 consecutive days.
On duty time starts at a point where the driver has had 8 consecutive hours off.
All motor vehicles shall be equipped as to permit application of the brakes at least once for the purpose of bringing the vehicle to a stop after the engine has become inoperative.
The turning zone is the safe space needed before, during, and at the completion of a turn.
CHP shall refuse to issue or renew the certificate of anyone who has in the last 3 years had his/her driving privileges suspended or on probation for any reason involving unsafe operation of a motor vehicle.
Any driver involved in a collision in California resulting in injury or death of any person or property damage to any one person in excess of 750.00 must be reported to DMV in 10 days.
When your air pressure builds to 150 psi, a safety release valve will open to release air from the air tank. It will be released back down to the maximum air pressure for that bus.
Your low air warning device must activate by 60 psi. (dual air system)
Your low air warning device must activate between 55 and 75 psi. (modulated system - pre 1977)
A good rule to follow when driving is to use the 12 to 15 second count visual lead.
You cannot travel in the left turn lane for more than 200 ft.
Your vehicle reference for turns is always, your front bumper.
The CHP must approve a stop that is on the traveleed portion of the roadway and within 500 ft of a curve and the speed limit is more than 25 mph.
You need to sign and date your State Department of Education Training Certificate TO-1 at the end of each training period. The State owns your TO-1. This shows verification of training.
The three components of a turn are: ground reference, vehicle reference, and turning point.
CHP adopts the Rules and Regulations for school bus drivers,
Tread depth for front tires on a school is 4/32, back tires is 2/32. The measurement of tread depth shall not be made where tie bars, humps, or fillets are located.
Periodic Preventive Maintenance Inspection. School bus carriers shall ensure every bus is inspected every 3,000 miles or 45 calendar days, whichever occurs first.
The Department (CDE) shall develop approved courses for training SPAB, Farm Labor, Transit and School Bus drivers.
WORK IN PROGRESS