What types of distractions should bus drivers avoid?

Bus drivers need to maintain complete focus on the road and their passengers to ensure everyone's safety. Cellphone use, eating, and other visual distractions divert attention away from driving tasks.

Using a cellphone can pull a driver’s focus from the task at hand, impairing their ability to respond quickly to obstacles or changes in traffic conditions. Eating while driving can also take a driver’s hands and eyes away from necessary controls and awareness. Visual distractions—such as looking at something outside the bus—can compromise a driver’s ability to stay alert to other vehicles, pedestrians, and signals. Hence, avoiding these distractions is crucial for a bus driver’s safety and effectiveness in managing their vehicle and passengers.

While listening to music and having conversations are not ideal, they may not pose the same level of immediate danger or risk as the actions specified in the correct answer. Reading route maps, while also a distraction, can generally be managed with proper planning and preparation before starting the drive. Therefore, the primary distractions that need to be avoided are those that directly impair the driver’s attention, such as cellphone use, eating, and visual distractions.