BELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES? CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS

This article which advocates shifting major emphasis to promoting safety outside the school bus, points out and discusses areas in which the safety of school children could be improved. Federally mandated school bus standards designed to minimize injuries without the use of seat belts are briefly reviewed. The prohibition of standing student passengers is discussed, as well as cars that illegally pass school buses. Ways in which this hazard could be reduced are noted. The institution of formal school bus crashworthiness and seat belt testing is discussed. Safety approaches that have been advocated by transportation industry experts can be categorized into two groups: safety technology and training programs. Each of these areas is briefly discussed.