This event tests the participant’s ability to judge the position and speed of their vehicle. The participant must drive the vehicle through a tapered lane outlined by barrels. The vehicle must enter the tapered lane at a speed greater than or equal to twenty (20) mph. If the participant does not travel at least twenty (20) mph they will receive a zero (0) for this event. Download “How To” Video

The Right & Left Reverses test the participant’s ability to back the vehicle into a confined area. The vehicle must be backed to the right/left around a course marker into a narrow lane, and be stopped within 36” of a cone directly behind the vehicle. The vehicle must not touch the cones marking the sides of the lane, the marking lanes, or the rear cone. This obstacle measures the participant’s use of mirrors and depth perception. Ten (10) points will be deducted for each shift into reverse at any event other than the initial reverse shift allowed at either Reverse obstacle. Blow horn, turn on four-way flashers, shift into reverse, back in, stop, shift to neutral, blow horn two times, and open the door. Time stops when the bus stops and starts when the bus moves. The judge will take measurements when the horn blows and will indicate to the participant when the measurements are completed. Left Hand Reverse: Download “How To” Video | Right Hand Reverse: Download “How To” Video

The left turn event measures the participant’s ability to negotiate a tight left turn. The participant must turn the vehicle through a 90 degree turn and not touch any of the cones outlining the turn, even though some of the cones will be out of sight during the turn. Download “How To” Video

During the Forward Offset Street, the participant is required to drive through two separate narrow lanes that are offset one full lane width from each other. The full value of the Off-Set Street obstacle (50 points) will be deducted for any reverse movement intentionally made in an attempt to better negotiate the obstacle other than in the manner intended, in order to avoid touching any of the course markers. Download “How To” Video

The participant must make a passenger stop at a location approximately two (2) vehicle lengths long. The stop must be made without the vehicle or tires touching any cones (simulating parked vehicles) or the curb, simulated by 4×4’s. The front tire on the vehicle should be 6” or less from the curb, and the rear tire should be 15” or less from the curb. Once the vehicle stops, the judges will measure the distance from the tires to the curb. There are two (2) passenger stops on the fixed route course. When approaching, turn on the signals or the flashers, make the required ADA Stop announcement, pull in, blow horn two times, and open the door. Time stops when the bus stops and starts when the bus moves. Judges will take measurements when horn blows and indicate to the participant when the measurements are completed. Download “How To” Video

For van and cutaway operators four (4) equipment related defects are planted on or in a bus that would make a bus operationally unready. For fixed-route operators fifteen (15) equipment related defects are planted on or in a bus that would make a bus operationally unready. Defects are of a type that a technician might find during a minor maintenance inspection, including items listed in F.A.C. 14-90. Defects will be those that do not require the bus to be started or require the contestants to crawl under the bus. Teams will not be allowed to have a checklist of defects to refer to during the competition. Eligible defects could include broken, loose, bad, missing, or incorrect: seats, all type of lights, all windows, stanchions, flooring, destination sign, door engine, fire extinguisher, windshield, wipers, run block numbers, mirrors, license plate, bell chord and/or dipsticks. Ineligible defects include defects under the bus, exterior body damage, paint problems, fluid leaks such as oil, water, fuel, etc., will not be considered as defects. Equipment where multiple defects are possible will be counted only once (i.e., seats, windows, and lights). A general location must be given and must identify multiple equipment defects (i.e., left side #1 window, right-front-side directional light). Front and rear windows, headlights, taillights, brake lights, mirror, and turn signals, will each count as separate defects. Download “How To” Video

This event measures a participant’s ability to properly align the vehicle. The vehicle must be driven so that the right tires pass through a lane that is slightly wider than the tires and progressively narrows. The lane is marked by tennis balls that are flattened on one side. Download “How To” Video

The right turn event measures the participant’s ability to negotiate a tight 90 degree right turn. The corner is marked with a pivot cone and rear tire of the vehicle must pass within 6” of the corner. To measure this, a line is marked out at 45 degrees from the corner and divided into 6” increments. The judge must see which increment the outside edge of the right rear tire passes over in order to score the participant. Download “How To” Video

The Serpentine measures the participant’s ability to negotiate a series of tight turns. The participant is required to enter the course, weave in and out through three (3) cones, and exit the obstacle. The vehicle is not permitted to touch any portion of any cone. Download “How To” Video

This event is worth 50 points or 5% of the total score. The test includes twenty-five (25) questions valued at two (2) points each. The questions are selected by FDOT from a pool of questions provided by the Florida RTAP Program Coordinator. Participants will have forty-five (45) minutes to complete the test.

This event measures a participant’s ability to align the vehicle’s lift within a suitable curb location for a wheelchair passenger. The suitable location is slightly larger than the width of an ADA specified lift. The approach to the pick-up point is the same as the Passenger Stop. In this event, the measurements taken by the judges are related to how well the lift is positioned within the suitable area. This skill test also offers the participants the chance to earn bonus points.

This event is worth 200 points or 20% of the total score. There is a seven (7) minute time limit for this event. The seven (7) minutes does not include the time spent by the judge testing the securement. At the start of the wheelchair securement exercise, the participant will meet a wheelchair passenger and judge. The participant should approach the passenger as though the passenger were a person to be transported. The participant must verbalize to the passenger all of the activities that he/she will perform in the process of loading and securing them in the vehicle.