When is it appropriate to check your mirrors while driving a bus?

Regularly checking your mirrors as part of a scan for potential hazards is essential for safe bus operation. This practice allows the driver to maintain an awareness of the surrounding environment, including other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and any potential obstacles. Mirrors should be used frequently—not just during certain maneuvers like changing lanes—but continuously throughout the drive to ensure that the driver is aware of changing conditions that could affect safety.

In addition to helping with hazard detection, regularly checking mirrors allows the driver to monitor the area around the bus, ensuring that they can respond appropriately to any changes in traffic patterns or obstacles that may arise. This type of proactive monitoring is critical in passenger transport, where the safety and well-being of passengers and others on the road are paramount.

While checking mirrors at the start of the route and when hearing unusual noises can be important, they do not encompass the comprehensive vigilance required during operation. Continuous mirror checking is a proactive safety strategy vital for managing the dynamic nature of driving a bus.