What are some pros an cons of selt belts on buses?

Question

What are some pros an cons of selt belts on buses?

Answer 1

PROS: In a select few types of accidents the seat belts might prevent injuries.  I stress MIGHT.

CONS: Not a short answer at all.  If you really want to know more, read on...

I have 5 kids in school and, of course, I care about their safety on buses, so this is a topic and question that I have researched thoroughly over the past 10 months. The following is what I have found.

Everyone tends to say the cost is the a main reason buses don't have belts. And while I agree funding could certainly be a factor, consider the following. Neither lap nor lap-and-shoulder belts on a bus provide the same type of protection offered in a car. During a head-on collision, the most common type for buses, lap belts alone can increase the risk of injury. On impact, this type of restraint allows a passenger's head to jerk forward, risking severe head and neck injury. Lap AND shoulder belts would require the installation of stiffer seats. These seats could become a source of impact injury. Studies also showed that children can slip downwards when restrained by lap and shoulder belts, risking injury to vulnerable internal organs.

In 1999, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) examined the effect of seat belt installation in buses. They came to the conclusion that seat belts actually would result in head injuries and fatalities. In fact, the NTSB found a relationship between most injuries/deaths and the seating position of the passenger. In these cases, the presence of seat belts would change nothing.

While there is no evidence proving that seat belts on buses save lives, there is reason to worry they MAY CAUSE HARM. During an emergency, seat belts could hinder young children from quickly exiting the bus; they simply could not free themselves. Drivers would be hard pressed to monitor belt usage for every student. And the heavy buckles could be used as weapons.

Studies by federal agencies, including the NTSB, have shown heavy bus construction and compartmentalization provides greater safety than seat belts ever could. Comparing the design of a school bus to a car is like comparing apples to oranges. Where belts protect passengers during car collisions, their presence may cause severe injuries on a bus. Seatbelts are only required on small buses weighing less than 10,000 pounds because their design more closely resembles a car. It is ironic, but the reality is that seat belts have no place on most school buses.

I know that isn't always the popular position, but it's what most of the facts support.

I hope that helps.

Answer 2

Pros- kids are safe. no roaming around the buss from seat to seat.

Cons. buss drivers have one more thing to look for while they could be watching the road. there is no way that the driver could keep all of them buckled.

and some others.

Answer 3

Believe it or not seatbelts on school buses are more dangerous to children in a crash then not having them. the seats on the bus are designed for the child to hit them. As bad as it sounds the video that i watched on this being an emt provided an answer to that question. The child seatbelted with a traditional lap belt received twice as much damage than the not seat belted child. A new style seat and lap belt system has tested very well and is an option to no seat belt however getting the children to use it is easier said then done. There are many pros to the seatbelt, It can eliminate movement in the bus, Fighting in the bus, And of course injuries in rollovers and other accidents. Check out this video of the new seats in action http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_yZcaOIk...

i dont have the ems video digtially but if i can find it on the web i will post it here. I think it would be a good idea for these new seats to be in the bus but the shoulder harness part doesnt look to be that effective to help stopping hitting the seat in front of you without still having some head/neck trauma. Of course it all comes down to the dot regulating them anyways.

Answer 4

Pros: First, school buses, the big yellow variety, are incredibly safe. According to NHTSA, of the 23.5 million school children who travel an estimated 4.3 billion miles on 450,000 yellow school buses each year, on average, six die in crashes.

Cons: Cost and more deaths would happen.

Answer 5

Pros - Safety

Cons - Getting the kids to use them and/or keep them on and in an emergency getting them off asap to get the kids evacuated from the bus.

Answer 6

Selt Belt?

Pros: It can save your life

Cons: Well somebody has to pay for them