ANALYSIS
Flexible Advice: Compartmentalization Seats, Restraints and Flexible Seating
By Robert Pudlewski In April 1977, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 222 effectively changed the design of school
bus seats from the many designs used, from plastic/fiberglass and low metal-backed seats to the thickly padded seats still in use today. As a concept, compartmentalization was introduced in 1967 by safety researchers at the University
of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Te compartmentalization seat standard without seat-belt mandates took 10 years to develop from the test results of 1967 and many more years to transition into the North American school bus fleet. Compartmentalization in school buses has evolved with the improved seat design of high-back, padded seats spaced close together within a maximum distance specified by FMVSS 222 (less than 30 inches apart front to back in most cases), which is meant to better contain passengers in the event of a crash. Aside from compartmentalization, the UCLA researchers who conducted the 1967 tests on
school buses concluded that after high-back seats, next in importance to passenger safety is the use of a three-point belt, lap belt or other form of effective restraint. Tat was 44 years ago. In contrast to cars and other light-duty passenger vehicles, school buses typically are not
equipped with seat belts. As provided in 1977’s FMVSS 222, the U.S. federal government required passive restraint and more stringent structural integrity standards for school buses instead of requiring lap seat belts. Te passive restraint standards exempt school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds from requiring seat belts. A revised FMVSS 222 that took effect in October now requires three-point lap/shoulder belts in all newly manufactured, small Type A school buses with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less to improve occupant protection.
❝ As with any new technology that meets minimum stan-
dards, a buyer should be aware of the capabilities of the numerous ‘flexible’ seats now developed to meet the new standards and most importantly allow seating flexibility of the K-12 children secured with a three-point restraint, espe- cially if your district or company is considering converting or retrofitting to flexible seating. ❞
Although whether seat belts should be a requirement remains controversial, currently they are
a requirement in at least five states: Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, California and Texas. Of the states that equip buses with two-point, lap seat belts (Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey and
New York), New Jersey requires seat belt usage by riders. In other states, it is up to the district whether to require riders to use them or not. In July 2004, California became the first state to require three-point lap/shoulder seat belts on all
new Type A school buses. A year later, this requirement was extended to large Type C and Type D school buses. Texas followed with its own three-point seat belt law for school buses in 2007 with a 2010 implementation date, if funding was available. Te Texas legislature approved $10 million in funds for the 2010-2011 budget period.
38 School Transportation News Magazine January 2012
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