A student exits the bus and drops something near the front wheel. What should the driver do if the student bends down to pick it up?

A STUDENT IN THE FRONT DANGER ZONE — especially bent over or on the ground — represents one of the highest-risk situations in school bus operation. WHAT MAKES THIS SO DANGEROUS: The student is now low to the ground, potentially under or very close to the front wheels; the driver's view of this position is severely limited even with mirrors; the crossing arm (if the bus has one) may not be in a position to block the student; movement of the bus — even an inch — could be catastrophic; CORRECT RESPONSE: Keep the bus completely stationary; open the window and communicate with the student verbally in a calm, clear voice; instruct the student: 'Stop! Don't move. Stand up slowly and back away from the bus.'; wait until the student is standing, visible, a safe distance from the bus, and making direct eye contact; verify the student is clear before releasing the brakes; CROSSING ARM: Some buses have a front crossing arm — a yellow barrier that extends in front of the bus during stops; this is a helpful safety device but cannot substitute for verifying student position; students have been struck even with crossing arms deployed by moving onto the arm's path from an unexpected direction. NEVER ASSUME: The driver should never assume that because they do not see a student, the student is clear — a student in a blind spot is the most dangerous situation; 'I didn't see them' is not an adequate response after a crash.