SHOULD PUPILS BE BELTED

This article addresses the issue of seat belts on school buses. In 1971 the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) published a study which concluded that compartmentalization--scientifically spacing the seats a certain distance apart, raising the height of the seat backs, and padding the seats to reduce the severity and incidence of injury in a collision--would be more cost effective than installing seat belts. The UCLA study also concluded, however, that the use of both the compartmental concept and seat belts would cut the fatality rate even more. Thus, since compartmentalization regulations are now in effect, there is a growing support for mandated seat belts. Some of the major points of discussion on this issue are presented in this article. They concern such things as who will bear the costs for seat belts, how will seat belt use be enforced on the school bus, and what to do about the seat belt failure rate. Other issues involved are discussed including other school bus safety devices to prevent pedestrian fatalities among school children and school bus driver training.