Why Are There No Safety Belts On Our School Buses?

Some buses do have seat belts, especially the ones that haul special needs children. It also may comfort you to know that at least in my state, and I assume federally, buses that haul pre school children have car seats, boosters, and harnesses. It is not hard to get most preschool children to comply, and then they are more likely to grow up obeying the rules about seat belts. I was a bus driver for many years. Yearly we took first aid, cpr, and defensive driving. Monthly we had safety meetings. I learned how to put out a fire using a fire extinguisher, got to use an actual fire in a burn pan. Practiced searching a smoke filled bus. Learned why we do not do high speeds around curves (high center of gravity, easy to tip over). I would say that if you are concerned about bus safety in your schools you find out what kind of training they are required to have to be a driver. I know it differs from state to state. Training would save even more lives than seat belts.

Yes, I guess we'll be struggling with this one for a while. GardenGerty makes some great arguments though. Let's hope that all bus drivers drive careful enough to avoid any accidents.

Thanks for clearing that up GardenGerty, but I am sure if what you said is right, and the seats are protective enough, then it is best to not have them on a regular school bus, where the belts might be used for something other than what it was meant to be used for..

The fire hazard is a problem. Has there been such a case? Then again, I would still think a volunteer parent should ride the bus with our kids. Plus the school buses I've ridden on did not have those high backs. Maybe the newer ones have those. But they seem to be a hazard too, from what you're presenting here. Anyway, good points fasttalker. Thanks for sharing. Have an wonderful evening.

Good points. I would have volunteer parents ride the bus to keep those children in check though. If that were possible, of course.

Some disgruntled parent would offer to sue your volunteer parent for making his little kid mind. I think if they grow up with the expectation most of them will wear them. It only takes one to make the driver miserable, though.

Oh wow, GardenGerty, I didn't think of that..So maybe I was wrong thinking that some schools already have them..

Hehehe, true my friend. Let's hope that after the first time a kid gets whacked with a safety belt that it would be the last. I'm thinking it wouldn't be ongoing behaviour. Or, at least, we would hope not. I am glad that the special ed buses have safety belts. Anyway, thanks for dropping in. I appreciate your input.

How do we bring down these people in charge? I've never seen this on any ballot. You make some great points, my friend. Thanks for your input. Have an awesome evening.

Well to start off with, a superindentdent if I remember correctly is a hired person, therefore, you would have to get rid of your current schoolboard committee. This can be simply done by electing people who aren't in it just for the money, but who truly do care about the children, then you have to put in your own opinion to who should be what, and who to do what, and how money should be used. Also, petitions for such things are quite useful to do also. As most petitions you would have to get a majority vote.

Mmmmm, Justin I'm thinking that you don't have any kids. I could be wrong but at 18 . . . well anyway. Your discussions aren't exactly kid friendly either, though I haven't checked all of them. But more to your point here, I would call for volunteer parents to ride the bus with the kids and make sure they are strapped in. We moms do silly things like that. In any case, I do thank you for dropping in. Have a good evening.

Oh I think that's a great policy to have. I suggested a parent volunteer to ride the bus but apparently that's not do-able either.

Maybe we'll get to vote on it one of these days. Then I guess we'll hear both sides.

Hehehe, I still can't get over that: "somebody's little darling clonking another kid a good one with a swung buckle, or tripping . . . " I guess we'll always have one accident or another with kids. All points taken, Shepherd.

Yes, if the older buses had them I wouldn't mind the chipped paint. I guess the arguments presented here has been the kids themselves--they would hurt other kids with the belts and such things. I guess we'll be arguing this one for a while.

A little strange huh? Plus have you ever wondered why there are safety belts on board a plane. Once a plane crashes the belts are probably pointless.