What is one specific duty of the school bus driver before transporting passengers?

Before transporting passengers, one important duty of the school bus driver is to complete a vehicle inspection. This task is critical for ensuring the safety and operational readiness of the bus. During a vehicle inspection, the driver checks various components of the bus, including the brakes, lights, tires, and overall condition of the vehicle. This proactive measure helps to identify any potential issues that could lead to mechanical failures while on the road, thereby safeguarding the students aboard.

Other choices, while relevant to bus operations, do not capture the essential pre-transport requirement as effectively. Ensuring the bus is clean is important for comfort but does not impact safety. Creating a route plan is typically done prior and streamlines transit but does not address immediate vehicle safety. Checking fuel levels is something drivers need to monitor, but this task alone is insufficient without a thorough check of the vehicle's overall condition.