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.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
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