Seat Belts On School Buses

Recently, a school bus was involved in an accident on the 410 in Brampton.  A group of fourth grade students were being taken on a field trip to an outdoor education facility when the bus came in contact with a transport truck.  The bus ended up in a ditch without rolling over.  There were a number of injuries, and one boy has died as a result of his.  This has renewed the debate in Toronto media about seat belts in school buses, especially since the bus did not roll over, which is the known failing of the current school bus design, and yet a child died and many more were injured.

While Transport Canada claims that the tightly grouped padded seats "compartmentalize" the passengers, it clearly offers insufficient protection, even in accidents where the vehicle remains upright at all times.  Claims that restraints would hinder a child's ability to escape a dangerous situation are reasonable, but the number of perilous situations requiring evacuation is less than that where a sudden stop or worse occurs.  While drivers argue that they would properly have to fit each adjustable belt to each child (since an improperly fitted belt is more dangerous than no belt at all), it is still a small price to pay for safety.  The only problematic issue I see with adding seat belts to school buses is the fact that the buses are not only used by children, and creating a universally sized belt is impossible due to the size differences.  (Proof of this can be found in Ontario law, where young children are put in a booster seat to accommodate universally sized belts.)

However, despite all the problems and pitfalls and potential risks, there is a situation where three point restraints (a two point restraint, or lap belt, has been shown to be more hazardous than no belt at all) have been implemented successfully.  In California, all school buses have these harnesses, despite the cost of installation.

And that is what I suspect is the largest obstacle: the cost. Outfitting a single bus with proper restraints costs around $14000CDN. And despite the fact that the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) does not run its own buses (all buses in the City are contracted out to private firms), it would likely shoulder some of the cost in the form of increased fees.  And since the TDSB is funded by all levels of government either directly or indirectly, it would cost the government money to make seat belts mandatory.  With two of the three levels of government in somewhat perilous positions (the Ontario Liberals are expected to be calling an election this fall, and the federal Conservatives are currently in a minority government), such a decision, while politically advantageous (who doesn't want their governments to make kids safe?) also comes with a virtual guarantee to raise taxes.

The thing is, years ago they mandated that all cars had to have belts.  As our knowledge developed, we learned that three point harnesses were much safer than lap belts.  Each of these changes required a cost to implement.  It was accepted and absorbed because we understood that it made us and our children safer.  Why, given all we know about proper restraints and highway safety, are there still no belts in school buses?  If compartmentalized beltless seating arrangements were as safe and ideal as the government and bus companies claim, why is that not the standard for my minivan?

Comments

[Multi-tasking Mommy]

Hmmm...I think it's a tricky issue really! The cost definitely, but I do think it is the whole sizing of the seatbelt as well as the children keeping the belts on and for younger children, even being able to do them up. As well, children I'm sure would have a difficult time re-sizing them on their own. I don't know what the right answer is.

[SANDRA BROOM]

I have 3 counsins that was injured in a church bus. It was a old activity bus, no seat belts. Two of the kids spent 13 days in the hospital. one boy died. we believe if seat belts and better sets had been on bus. The children would had not been hurt as bad. They were throwed around like toothpicks into each other and there seats collaped. The bus did turn over. The children around here are scared to get on a school bus and church bus. why don't our government make the same safty rules for our precous children. Is it because most of there children don't ride the bus. this is something we should really look into. there was only 12 children on that bus. what if they had been 100 or more. all of the children were hurt in some way. broke arms, carlor bones, brused real bad. stiches everywhere. I just wish someone would help.