Why aren't seat belts required on school vehicles?

Some parents are surprised to find that while seat belt use is mandatory in passenger vehicles, their children travel unrestrained in a school bus.
School buses are designed to protect passengers through "compartmentalization". This means that school buses have:
* Seats with high backs
* The seats positioned close together to form compartments
* Seats filled with energy-absorbing material
* Strong seat anchorages
Parents also need to be aware of additional information about seat belts:
* To be effective, seat belts must be worn correctly (snug and low on the hips) for full protection. Seat belts which are not correctly worn may cause injuries.
* because school vehicles carry passengers from the very young to high school students, seat belt fit must be readjusted and use monitored to ensure safety.
* because of increased use, seat belts on school buses are subject to more wear and tear, and their condition must be monitored.
* studies using dummies have shown that adding seat belts to the current school bus seating arrangement can actually increase the chance of head and neck injuries in restrained passengers.