INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS: TOP STORY


ONGOING DEBATE THE DISCUSSION ON LAP/SHOULDER BELTS IS HEATING UP, AGAIN WRITTEN BY JULIE METEA


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n July, the Buffalo, N.Y., Public Schools fleet of buses will be America’s next to be completely equipped with three-point, lap/ shoulder seat belts. New York was the first state to mandate “seat belts,” the two-point lap variety, and high-back seat padding,


leaving it up to school districts to decide how and what to implement. Buffalo researched the pros and cons of two-point and three-point


belts before going with the latter, as well as on-board video cameras and other safety features in its contract with First Student. “Buffalo had foresight to bring safety to students and the whole


community. I think they have the right idea,” said Sean McCabe, area general manager of the contractor's western New York operations. Te district and First Student are running a 30-minute pilot train-


ing program for K-8 students, the target audience. Staff and parents also are learning about augmented bus safety. If students refuse to wear the restraints, they are individually counseled. Over five years it’s resulted in better student behavior and safe conditions in collisions.


“We’ve had some accidents, and the on-board camera showed


the riders were safe. Te lap/shoulder belts are really helpful in side impacts,” said Transportation Director Al Diamico. Buffalo transports more than 28,000 riders on 631 buses that cover 6 million miles a year. Tis milestone comes amid a quarter-century industry debate on occupant restraints vs. compartmentalization, driven by a patchwork of laws, technology and real-world best practices. “Tere’s a lot of policy out there. It’s one thing to say it, but


it’s another thing to do it. We preach it, and our community is involved,” Diamico said.


RESTRAINT CONSTRAINT Buffalo's decision, like at other districts, emerged from the ongoing


industry debate. Te discussion continues over the ultimate state of school bus safety in the U.S., and large buses are a sticking point. Since NHTSA published its study “Next Generation of Occupant


School Bus Regulation and Recommendations


NHTSA gives report to Congress & starts projects for next-generation school bus occupant protection systems.


Federal government halts funding for school bus seat belt research. NHTSA says its 2002 report is comprehensive enough to stand until future rulemaking.


NHTSA issues school bus crashworthiness report for occupant restraint systems.


NASDPTS releases position paper to guide states and industry on enhancing school bus safety.


All Type A school buses (≤10,000 lbs. GVWR) must have 3-point belts. NHTSA


denies a petition seeking a federal requirement for these lap/shoulder seat belts on large school buses.


First federal mandates and rules on 3-point belts for all Type A school buses by 2011. NHTSA issues guidelines for volunteer safety systems on large school buses and implements test procedures for three-point belts and compartmentalization.


NTSB releases findings on high-profile school bus crashes, sparking more industry debate on occupant restraint systems for large school buses.


NASDPTS revises its position paper for 3-point belts on large school buses.


1998


2002


2003 - 2004


1999 - 2001


2005 - 2006


2007 - 2008


2009- 2010


2011 2013 Today


Legislative Burst:


Florida law passed in 1999 to require all new school buses to have 2- point seat belts or federally approved restraint system.


New York & New Jersey already have school bus 2-point seat belt laws. More than 20 states have since introduced bills.


Louisiana requires 2-point seat belts on school buses.


Tech Burst: SafeGuard/IMMI installs first 3-point lap/shoulder belt systems on school buses for NHTSA evaluation. First production line Type A school bus with these seats is built by Girardin. IC Corp offers optional three- point belts of its design in 2005 CE Series.


California requires 3- point lap/shoulder seat belts on all new large school buses on July 1, 2005. The requirement for small buses went into effect one year earlier.


Differing 3-point and 2- point seat belt legislation spurs for small and large school buses in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia.


Texas requires 3- point lap/shoulder belt systems on all new school buses, but the legislature fails to fund them. Louisiana has a similar dilemma with its 2-point seat belt law.


Industry collaboration leads to individual school districts in numerous states with 100% 3-point belts on both small and large school buses.


Real-world case studies are shared and compared.


Industry Action and Result


16 School Transportation News May 2014


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