CDL: On the Road with Passengers
On the Road: Managing Passengers, Curves, Crossings, and Drawbridges
Once a bus pulls away from the curb, a driver's responsibilities expand well beyond the mechanics of driving. Passengers need supervision, certain intersections and curves carry hidden risks specific to buses, and a handful of crossings — railroad tracks and drawbridges — come with their own mandatory stopping rules. This article covers all of it.
Supervising Passengers
Many charter and intercity carriers maintain their own rules around passenger comfort and safety — things like policies on smoking, drinking, or the use of radios and tape players. Covering these rules at the very start of the trip helps head off problems before they start, rather than trying to correct behavior once it's already underway.
While driving, your attention needs to be split between the interior of the bus and everything happening outside it — the road ahead, to the sides, and behind. That might mean reminding riders of the rules you covered earlier, or asking them to keep their arms and heads inside the bus.
Managing Stops
Getting on or off a bus, or being aboard when it starts or stops, creates a real risk of riders stumbling or losing their balance. Make a habit of cautioning riders to watch their step as they leave the bus, and wait until they're seated or have braced themselves before you start moving again. Keeping your starts and stops as smooth as possible goes a long way toward preventing rider injuries.
Every so often, a driver will encounter a rider who is intoxicated or otherwise disruptive. In these situations, you're responsible for that rider's safety as well as everyone else's. Don't put a disruptive rider off the bus somewhere that would be unsafe for them — it's often better to wait for the next scheduled stop, or choose a well-lit area where other people are present. Many carriers have their own specific guidelines for handling these situations, so it's worth knowing your employer's policy.
Where Bus Accidents Commonly Happen
Intersections are a common site for bus accidents, so extra caution is warranted there even when a signal or stop sign is already controlling the other traffic. School buses and mass transit buses in particular sometimes clip their mirrors or strike passing vehicles when pulling away from a bus stop. Keep the clearance your bus needs in mind, and watch for obstacles like poles and tree limbs near stops.
Before pulling back into traffic, know how large a gap your bus actually needs in order to accelerate and merge safely. Wait for that gap to open before leaving the stop — and never assume that another driver will slow down just because you've signaled or started to pull out.
Slowing Down for Curves
Crashes on curves that injure or kill people, and destroy buses in the process, are usually the result of excessive speed — often made worse by rain or snow making the road slippery. Every banked curve has a built-in safe "design speed." Under good conditions, the speed posted for the curve is typically safe for passenger cars, but it can still be too fast for many buses.
With good traction, driving a curve too fast risks a rollover. With poor traction, the bus is more likely to slide off the curve entirely. The safest approach is simply to slow down before entering any curve. One useful warning sign: if your bus is leaning toward the outside of a banked curve, that's a clear indication you're going too fast.
Stopping at Railroad Crossings
Railroad crossings require a specific stopping procedure:
- Stop your bus between 15 and 50 feet before the crossing.
- Look and listen in both directions for an approaching train. If opening your forward door would improve your ability to see or hear a train, do so.
- Once a train has passed, confirm there isn't a second train approaching from the other direction on a different track before you cross.
- If your bus has a manual transmission, never shift gears while you're actually crossing the tracks.
Not every rail-adjacent situation requires a full stop. In the following cases, you should slow down and carefully check for other vehicles instead of coming to a complete stop:
- At streetcar crossings
- Wherever a police officer or flagman is directing traffic
- If a traffic signal controlling the crossing is green
- At crossings specifically marked "exempt" or "abandoned"
Stopping at Drawbridges
Drawbridges that don't have a signal light or a traffic control attendant require you to stop — at least 50 feet before the draw of the bridge. Before crossing, visually confirm that the draw is fully closed.
As with railroad crossings, not every drawbridge requires a full stop. You can slow down and confirm it's safe to proceed, without stopping completely, when the bridge has a green traffic light, or when an attendant or traffic officer is present to control traffic whenever the bridge opens.
Driving a bus "on the road" is about far more than steering and braking — it means staying alert to your passengers' behavior and safety, understanding the specific risks buses face at intersections and curves, and following precise stopping procedures at railroad crossings and drawbridges. Mastering these details is essential both for the CDL exam and for keeping everyone aboard safe.