« Vancouver 2010! | Main | Unemployment Compens... »
 

Entry bubble School Bus Safety

By: Joanne | August 26, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

children looking out a school bus window

Today’s our first day of school, and two questions come to mind. Where did summer go? And why, why, why are there no seat belts on school buses!?!

When I was a little kid, my parents weren’t required by law to strap me into a car seat, but over the years we’ve learned a lot about safety. Whenever I get into a car I always buckle up, and my kids are properly restrained as well. So if I’m a criminal if I don’t buckle up my kids in the car, how does the school district get off? Why does the danger end when they climb the steps of the big, yellow school bus? I don’t get it.

I’ve done a little reading on the subject, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that school buses are one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. Tragically, in the U.S. more than 42,000 people die in traffic crashes every year, and on average, six school age children die in school bus crashes. A 2002 report by the National Academy of Sciences looked at fatalities that occurred as kids were transported to and from school and the report says that only 2 percent are associated with official school transportation, compared to 22 percent due to walking/bicycling to or from school, and 75 percent from passenger car transportation to or from school. In fact, statistics show that the area around (outside) the bus is far more dangerous than being inside the bus, so be sure your kids know how to stay safe around the bus.

Still, I find these statistics only somewhat reassuring. I noticed that these reports are only addressing fatalities in school buses and ignoring injury. Maybe I have a wild imagination, but I would expect that in the event of a crash, those little children fly around in the bus like popcorn!

If school bus safety bothers you like it bothers me, do what I did and contact your elected officials and let them know that you think it’s an important issue.

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: bus   joanne   kids   safety   school   seat_belts  

Comments (4):

blue comment bubble Posted by dcrider on August 26, 2008 at 07:40 AM EDT

No bus of any form requires passengars to bukle up. This include school bus, metro bus, and tour bus. I saw a TV program shows the crash analysis of seat belt on a bus. The result support the current no seat belt design. Anybody knows more about this?

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by bus junky on August 27, 2008 at 06:24 AM EDT

Busses generally have high back seats, travel at (relatively) low speeds (often 55mph, even if the posted speed limit is 70), and are driven by professional drivers making them less accident prone. The high back seats provide protection to the rider behind the seat from being ejected.

Also, dangling seat belts during a mass exodus presents a trip hazard.

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by Bus 22 moutain runner on September 01, 2008 at 02:03 PM EDT

liked your artical on the safty belts , hope to find more info. in the next few weeks. 9/1/08

Comment Permalink

blue comment bubble Posted by lrich on September 22, 2008 at 07:58 PM EDT

Ever try to get 71 small children out of seat belts fast?

Comment Permalink