What is your opinion of installing seat belts on school busses?

Question

There are those that say seat belts are more dangerous on school busses, but is there a way to make seat belts "safe"? Are governments more concerned about child safety or the expense of having to revamp an archaic and dangerous transportation system?

Answer 1

Nope. What if the school bus became overturned for whatever reason and the driver was knocked unconscious do you really think that a bunch of elementary kids who can barely tie their shoes will know how to get out of the seat belts? What if the school bus caught on fire now the driver has to run up and down the aisle to unbuckle 30 something kids; how do you think that will turn out?

Answer 2

Not this question again...

Buses are the safest type of transportation in terms of accidents/fatalities per passenger mile. (Not just school buses, ANY type of buses)

Buses are high off the ground and solidly constructed, a car couldn't do much damage to it unless something manage to penetrate the cabin. Only something of an equivalent or larger mass/size (semi, another bus, large truck, a train, etc.) can seriously damage a school bus (or any other bus). Chances of that is small enough.

Most bus injuries results from 1) against pedestrians, or 2) rollovers. Seatbelts may protect some from injuries against #2, but interior of a bus is already devoid of sharp edges for the most part. You'll get bruised all over, but you'll be alive. A lap belt on the other hand, may cause internal injuries.

A seat belt causes more problem than it solves. To make it one size fit all, you need two to three per seat, with height adjustable (ever seen a kid wearing a 3 pt belt? That's why they need booster seats) or booster seats. You then need to be be sure the belt can be released under almost ANY circumstances (including when the occupant is hanging upside down) as regular seats are. And can you trust the kids to operate them both safely and responsibly? What do you do if the kid refuse to wear it or take it off after the driver returns to his seat? Is the kid at fault, or is the driver negligent? Can the kid even BE at fault, since the parents will likely sue anyway if the bus got into an accident and their kid was injured?

I see this question spring up WHENEVER there's ANY accident regarding school buses. There are many reasons school buses are designed the way they are, and so far nothing has changed enough to warrant addition of seatbelts. The tradeoffs is just not worth the extra trouble/hassle.

Answer 3

A school bus isnt that sturdy, so if it where to roll over, the kids would be better off being thrown around then trapped in a bus that just had the roof collapse on their little bodies. A seat belt either way is always going to be in question, I dont wear them because I have been t-boned by a lady putting on make-up and not paying attention, then running a red light without ever hitting her brakes, and bam! If I had been wearing my seat belt I would have broken if not come close to loosing my leg and being trapped.

Since I didnt though, I was merely thrown against the door and the glass, yeah the glass broke and I got cut up a little, and I recieved a concusion from being tossed around the way I was, but atleast I can still walk. Sorry about the rant, this is the reason I am so upset about the theory that women are better drivers than men, that is crap.

As for the issue, like I said it will never be solved, people die from wearing them, and people die from not wearing them. And there still isnt enough proof to say that it should be an option for passenger vehicles, and mandatory for busses.

Answer 4

I agree they should be provided. However, it comes down to monumental costs.

Lap-shoulder belts would be hard, because the buses transport children of all sizes and it's difficult to design belts that would fit all. And even if they were installed, the seats would only fit two children instead of three, so they'd have to get more buses.

Plus, it's been determined by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services that lap belts alone can cause more injuries than no belts.

Answer 5

it is not in ordinary terms costly to function seat belts even though it would be tricky to enforce with youthful teenagers who've worry buckling themselves. I propose it is not as though the bus driving force can sit down in the path of the line and go buckle up all the youngsters as they get on. Many youthful teenagers in kindergarten/first grade can not buckle themselves of path it would be astounding if college buses had seat belts yet you apart from would would desire to weigh the disadvantages on the two sides as nicely. enable's say the bus has an twist of destiny and is became on it incredibly is component or on fireplace. How is the bus driving force who ought to be harm themself, going to help all those little ones get out of their seatbelts and properly off the bus?

Answer 6

The answer to this debate is to get rid of the buses. End of discussion. They are a road hazard and children are never in more danger in their day to day lives than when getting on and off a school bus. Don't matter what you have to do to get them there. Just get rid of the big yellow behemoth stopping in curves and on the sides of hills.Better yet, take your children out of public school. The system has gone off the deep end and is damaging your childrens psyche.