How important are our children?

Question

Why do we have seat restraints on carnival rides, roller coasters, cars, trucks, Hi chairs, car seats, etc. But we have no restraints in school buses, too expensive, well is one seat belt worth a childs life?

Answer 1

My old school bus had them.... and this was like 15 years ago.

Answer 2

School buses are designed to actually be safer without belts, except in rollover situations. And they're so derned heavy that it takes a lot to roll one. With compartmentalization to absorb the shock of the impact, seat spacing to allow the whole body to go forward rather than just the head (which would be the case with lap belts) and absorb the shock/lower injury severity, and all the padding on the seats, they're the safest equipment on the road. Call it propaganda, but I saw a video that showed comparisons in head on collisions at 40 mph. High tech dummies were positioned throughout the bus, half belted, half unbelted. The half that were belted all suffered life threatening head/neck "injuries", the unbelted half had their entire body come forward and hit the seat in front. Broken bones, yes....but not life threatening. Then, there's the issue that the entire bus seating arrangement would have to be redesigned, because they would have to have lap belts + shoulder belts in order to be safe. It would drastically lower capacity in buses. Then, there's the whole issue of who's at fault if there is an accident, and a child isn't buckled in.....is it the driver's responsibility to make sure they stay buckled? If so, how do you propose they do it, in addition to watching for traffic, roadside hazards, and generally trying to drive safely. Or, here's another thought....those lovely metal clips on seat belts would sure make a nice weapon if one kid got mad at another one and wanted to fight....or....the strap would be just great to wrap around someone's neck. Is that going to be a liability issue for the driver as well??? I've retired just this year, but every year at the safety meetings they always discussed seat belts, and it's a deal of "it's not IF it's gonna happen....it's when." I still wish these people that want seat belts in buses so bad would go out and drive one for a few months....it might change their prospective a little

Answer 3

That a good question for the board of education after all its them that pays for the busing of our children. I believe that there should be some kind of restraints for all buses. They make them for special need buses why not regular school buses. The other that gets me is the overcrowding of school buses in my days you had to stand in the ailes.

Answer 4

Have you seen how big those buses are?!?

Simple physics... if they crash into something (other than a diesel) they are probably not going to be the ones that need a seat belt! It would be the other car that would be in trouble!

And think about what's in front of your kid... another seat... I'ld rather the kid slam into the seat in front of him than to take a digger to the head because he has his belt on!

Answer 5

My daughters school bus has them. Complain to the school board and attend the school board meetings, they usually have an open forum toward the end to address parental concerns, most usually have a parental advisor. I would voice my concerns and ACT for changes.

Answer 6

I don't disagree with you. I wonder about it too, but I have been told that it is safer for them not to be belted in. If there is an emergency and they need to evacuate the bus, it is much harder if the kids are all strapped in.

Answer 7

maybe its different areas in the country, but when I road the school bus in middle school the bus had seat belts. You werent required to wear them, but they were there.

Answer 8

I totally agree! It is ridiculous. I drive my son to school everyday and that is one of the main reasons.

Answer 9

i have always wondered that. so strange....