AUBURN – The School Committee has given preliminary approval to a policy that details exactly what a school bus driver should do after an accident.

The policy requires drivers to protect students and others involved in the accident, and immediately report the incident to school officials.

Drivers must then be tested for drugs and alcohol if police ticket the driver or deem a test necessary, if someone was hurt, if the accident caused more than $1,000 in damage, or if someone suspects that the driver was under the influence.

Drivers have followed a similar practice, but officials decided the policy needed to be formalized.

Committee members voted unanimously to approve the policy on first reading. A required second reading is expected in January.

At the same meeting, committee members also endorsed a revised procedure for accidents. Among other requirements, bus drivers must now keep students until a supervisor instructs them to be released to a parent, and drivers must list all students, their dates of birth and the seats they occupied.

The School Committee also gave unanimous approval to the new procedures. Unlike policies, procedures do not require a second reading.