BUCKLING UP IN SCHOOL BUSES--YEA OR NAY?

In this interview with Stan DeHart, director of transportation for the Cajon Valley Union School District in El Cajon, California, the question of whether or not to install seat belts is examined. First, the safety of today's school buses is pointed out, including the vehicle construction features which make it safer and the current approach to driver training which, in the Cajon Valley Union School District, goes beyond federal requirements. Compartmentalization, the current approach to constructing safe school buses, is discussed along with the structural features which add strength to the newer buses. The question of seat belts is then addressed. It is pointed out that the main purpose of seat belts, which is to hold passengers inside a vehicle in an accident, is already accomplished by the structural design of the newer buses. Also pointed out are the problem of enforcement of seat belt use and economic considerations of initial cost and cost of maintenance. In conclusion, it is stated that, dollar for dollar, whatever money may be available in the usually tight school transportation budget, it could be used better, not for seat belts but for safety training programs and for other equipment for buses which would reduce the number of deaths and injuries outside the bus.

• Corporate Authors:

  Tornatore (Ralph)

  P.O. Box 161209
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95816
• Authors:
  • Andrews, P
• Publication Date: 1987-10

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 62-66
• Serial:
  • California highway patrolman
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue Number: 10

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Driver training; Manual safety belts; Recommendations; School buses; Structural design; Vehicle safety
• Old TRIS Terms: Vehicular safety
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496531
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 395
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM