How many students can safely sit on a school bus seat?
Federal regulation does not specify the number of students that can sit on a school bus seat. School bus manufacturers determine the maximum seating capacity of a school bus. The manufacturers use this number, which is based on sitting three small elementary school persons per typical 39″ school bus seat in the calculations for determining the gross vehicle weight rating and the number of emergency exits. School transportation providers generally determine the number of persons that can safely fit into a school bus seat. Generally they fit three elementary school age persons or two middle or high school students into a typical 39″ school bus seat.
