Seat Belts On School Buses

I drove by the accidient yesterday in from of Dean Lumber and saw the damage done to the school bus. Thank God there were no children on the bus.
WHY DON"T SCHOOL BUSES HAVE SEAT BELTS? I think we should do whatever is needed to make Annapolis require children to be as safe in a school bus and they are in their family van.
 

kom526

They call me ... Sarcasmo
WHY DON"T SCHOOL BUSES HAVE SEAT BELTS? I think we should do whatever is needed to make Annapolis require children to be as safe in a school bus and they are in their family van.
Where pray tell, is this money going to come from? To retrofit the seats with seatbelts is going to cost according to some estimates, between $1000-$7000 per bus. Then you are going to need a monitor (more money) to make sure that the kids are buckled in and to help buckle them in.



Seat belts, air bags, fire suppresion and full roll cages.

Just bubble wrap them and send them on their way.:lmao:
 

rockymavia

Layin the smackdown
Where pray tell, is this money going to come from? To retrofit the seats with seatbelts is going to cost according to some estimates, between $1000-$7000 per bus. Then you are going to need a monitor (more money) to make sure that the kids are buckled in and to help buckle them in.





Just bubble wrap them and send them on their way.:lmao:

One of the biggest issues is, how is the bus driver going to ensure each child is in their selt belt, the drivers line of responsibilities is a long one already.
 

PsyOps

Pixelated
One of the biggest issues is, how is the bus driver going to ensure each child is in their selt belt, the drivers line of responsibilities is a long one already.

Actually that's not really the issue about seatbeats on school busses. The issue is, when there's an accident and 30 kids are trapped in their seatbeats and can't get out of a flaming bus. Who's going to get all of them out? The belts can also become choking hazzards.
 
C

czygvtwkr

Guest
Cause the kids will probably end up choking each other with them. One size really doesn't fit all from the little ones to the highschool kids either.
 

rockymavia

Layin the smackdown
Actually that's not really the issue about seatbeats on school busses. The issue is, when there's an accident and 30 kids are trapped in their seatbeats and can't get out of a flaming bus. Who's going to get all of them out? The belts can also become choking hazzards.

Very valid points.
 

kom526

They call me ... Sarcasmo
Cause the kids will probably end up choking each other with them. One size really doesn't fit all from the little ones to the highschool kids either.

This is just one of the points that DRIVERS bring up when this issue comes up. People need to think about this also, the bus has seatbelts, the bus is involved in wreck and ends up on its side. You now have children hanging 6-8 off the ground with little chance of an unassisted escape.

One size does not fit all and even in tests with lap belt only seats, occupants are still at risk of hitting the seat backs with their brain housing group.
 

MMDad

Lem Putt
We'd need seatbelts that fit a child from 4 to 18 years old. We'd also need an aide to belt the young ones. It can be done, but it's $$$$$.

The design of school buses is actually pretty safe as they are. The design of the seats absorb impacts, and they keep the kids compartmentalized and safe in most accidents.

If you look at crash data, it's rare that a seatbelt would have helped in a school bus crash. Most crashes are bus vs. car, and the bus wins. The bad ones are bus vs. dump truck, semi, or train, and there isn't a lot that can be done with forces that large.

As for the crash yesterday, there were two people on that bus. The one without a seatbelt was transported with minor injuries. The one with a seatbelt was flown out with serious injuries. Don't let the dramatic pictures cloud your judgement.

As for the comment that the kids should ba as safe in the bus as they are in the family minivan, once again look at crash data. Buses are already orders of magnitude safer than the minivan.
 

rockymavia

Layin the smackdown
This is just one of the points that DRIVERS bring up when this issue comes up. People need to think about this also, the bus has seatbelts, the bus is involved in wreck and ends up on its side. You now have children hanging 6-8 off the ground with little chance of an unassisted escape.

One size does not fit all and even in tests with lap belt only seats, occupants are still at risk of hitting the seat backs with their brain housing group.

Maybe they can come up with some type of lap bar that comes down almost like a roller coaster ride. This whole idea is going to need alot of thought and effort before anything can be put in place if anything can.
 

rockymavia

Layin the smackdown
The monitor would be a human...

I remember as a child our bus driver would let one of us be a bus monitor and report to the driver whos chewing gum and playing around on the bus. Its a shame he passed away so young, he was a great guy.
 

MMDad

Lem Putt
One of the biggest issues is, how is the bus driver going to ensure each child is in their selt belt, the drivers line of responsibilities is a long one already.

Just like in a modern car. Weight sensors in seats indicate the seat is occupied. A switch in the latching mechanism warns the driver. The bus doesn't move if the warning light is lit.
 

rockymavia

Layin the smackdown
Just like in a modern car. Weight sensors in seats indicate the seat is occupied. A switch in the latching mechanism warns the driver. The bus doesn't move if the warning light is lit.

Interesting, maybe you could be one of the designers(not trying to be smart) you seem to be technically savy.
 

Christy

b*tch rocket
Where pray tell, is this money going to come from? To retrofit the seats with seatbelts is going to cost according to some estimates, between $1000-$7000 per bus. Then you are going to need a monitor (more money) to make sure that the kids are buckled in and to help buckle them in.


Just bubble wrap them and send them on their way.:lmao:

I don't care one way or the other if there are seatbelts on school busses. BUT, I do find it incredibly contradictory to have seatbelt laws in place and people melting down every single time they see a kid not belted up in their family vehicle. It is after all, about the "safety of our children". Isn't it? :shrug:
 

MMDad

Lem Putt
Maybe they can come up with some type of lap bar that comes down almost like a roller coaster ride. This whole idea is going to need alot of thought and effort before anything can be put in place if anything can.

It has had a ton of thought, effort, and $$$$. California has adopted school bus seatbelts.

Go to National Transportation Safety Board and Home | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) | U.S. Department of Transportation if you want to see reports.
 
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