A bus may carry baggage and freight only if it is:

The correct answer is that a bus may carry baggage and freight only if it is secured and out of the way of any exit. This is crucial for ensuring the safety of all passengers on the bus. If baggage or freight is not secured, it could shift during transit, posing a risk of injury to passengers or blocking emergency exits in the event of an evacuation. Keeping baggage out of the way of exits allows for a clear and unobstructed path for passengers to quickly exit the vehicle if necessary.

While storing baggage in a separate compartment is a good practice and helps keep the bus organized, it is not strictly required for all situations. Similarly, the ownership of the baggage by a passenger is not a determining factor for safety purposes—it simply needs to be handled correctly. Proper packaging to avoid spills is important for protecting the bus and its passengers but doesn’t fully address the primary safety concern of clear exits and secured items. Therefore, ensuring that all baggage is secured and does not obstruct any exits is the most important consideration when transporting items on a bus.