Why aren’t seat belts required on school vehicles?
Some parents are surprised to find that while seat belt use is mandatory in passenger vehicles, their children travel unrestrained on a school bus. School buses are designed to protect passengers through “compartmentalization”. This means that school buses have: · seats with high backs; · seats positioned close together to form compartments; · seats filled with energy-absorbing material; · strong seat anchorages. Parents also need to be aware of additional information about seat belts: · To be effective, seat belts must be worn correctly (snug and low on the hips for full protection. Seat belts which are not correctly worn may cause injuries.) · Because school vehicles carry passengers from the very young to high school students, seat belt fit must be readjusted and use monitored to ensure safety. · Because of increased use, seat belts on school buses are subject to more wear and tear, and their condition must be monitored. · Studies using crash test dummies have shown that adding seat
