School Bus Drivers - Overview of Requirements

The National Safety Council has the following information for school bus drivers on stopping at highway-rail grade crossings:

• Bring the bus to a full and complete stop before crossing any track, whether or not the bus is carrying passengers. Stop the bus within not less than 15 feet or more than 50 feet from the rails nearest the front of the bus.
• These recommendations must be considered within the context of individual state laws and regulations.

The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) gives the following overview of licensing and testing requirements for school bus drivers:

"In the early 1990's, the Federal Highway Administration issued a requirement that all school bus drivers possess a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). To attain this license, school bus drivers must pass knowledge and skills tests, be subject to random drug and alcohol testing, and pass a biennial physical.

"States long have required school bus drivers to take written exams designed to test an applicant's knowledge of state laws and regulations affecting school transportation. In addition, behind-the- wheel road tests are used to evaluate an applicant's driving skills. Each state develops its own written and road tests based on the unique operational characteristics of its school transportation system."

In 1998, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, developed a Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety module for training bus drivers. The module includes a handout on "How to Cross a Highway-Rail Intersection Safely."

Operation Lifesaver worked with NASDPTS to produce its 2005 school bus driver training video "Decide Smart, Arrive Safe."