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School Bus Safety: Should children wear seat belts?

Across America students and parents are asking, Why no one installs seat belts on school buses? Most students do not understand why the law requires seat belts in cars, trucks, vans, and recreational vehicles but no law requiring the use on school buses. Some state laws now require children under certain ages to ride in the back seat due to air bags.

A common question asked by most people is, what is preventing injury to children and persons during a collision?

Another interesting question that has arisen involves the installation type of seat belt. Should they install just the lap belts? (Which can allow for head injury during accidents), or shoulder harness with lap belts?

A vast majority of persons really do not understand where to go to have these issues addressed. People constantly ask. Do I petition government on the local, state, or federal level? What department handles these types of issues? The sad truth so far has been. Most agencies keep waiting for another agency to address the issue.

Parents question, are budget issues the problem? Are the children safer without seat belts? If either of these are the cases, then why? They (parents and students) would only ask for a good honest explanation.

Public concern for seat belts on school buses comes from everyday observation. Everyone agrees that school buses do travel at speeds up to fifty-five miles an hour on the highway. Travel secondary roads that can be tricky, not just for the bus driver but other drivers also. The most concern of all is stopping for loading and unloading of children in high traffic areas when most school bus accidents occur.

Learn more about this author, Roger Penny.
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