School Bus CHP Practice Test

When may a school bus driver activate 4-way hazard lights?

1. Backing

2. Parked at a curb

3. Stopping at a railroad crossing

4. Stopping at a school bus stop

The correct answer is: Backing

A school bus driver may activate 4-way hazard lights when stopping at a school bus stop. This is vital for alerting other drivers that the bus is in a stationary position, particularly when children are boarding or alighting from the bus. The use of hazard lights serves as a warning to enhance safety, indicating that there may be pedestrians nearby, including students who could be crossing the road to reach the bus or the school. Moreover, activating the hazard lights at a school bus stop is part of the protocols designed to protect the safety of passengers. While backing, parked at a curb, or stopping at a railroad crossing may involve additional considerations for safety, they do not necessarily require the switching on of hazard lights in the same context as at a bus stop. Each situation has specific safety measures and regulations that drivers must adhere to, making the activation of 4-way hazard lights particularly appropriate and mandated when dealing with school bus stops.