SPECIAL REPORT
grated seats if pre-K students are riding,” Beaver advised. “If families choose not to use them, there isn’t an impact on seating space as the 39-inch integrated seat will still sit three K-5 students comfortably if needed.” On Feb. 7, 2022, a crash occurred in the North Kitsap School District in Kingston, Washington affecting a large general education school bus without student seatbelts. While the driver’s restraint system confined them within the seat during the collision, the driver was injured by the crushing of the front of the bus, noted John Sides, transportation director. But Sides credited compartmentalization for prevent- ing student injuries. While no large general education school buses have student seatbelts, smaller special education buses do, Sides added. “Washington state law requires the usage of seatbelts
in any school bus seats which have a seatbelt, no matter the style,” he said. “All seatbelts on our special needs bus- es are of the shoulder-strap style.” Sides said he’s seen compartmentalization work in a crash and believes seatbelts work just as well. The delay in mandating them nationwide is likely a monetary de- cision made by federal authorities realizing the financial burden that would be placed on school districts, com- munities and states if, and when, school bus seatbelts are
required, he added. Dave Chandler, the transportation director of Weld
Re-9 Transportation in Ault, Colorado, recounted a December 2022 collision of a vehicle with the side of a school bus after it left a student stop. The vehicle’s driver was charged. The Blue Bird Vision bus with 30 passen- gers and two mid-bus wheelchair positions had lap belts when it was new in 2012. But after watching crash test videos comparing lap belts to three-point or no belts at all, they were removed, Chandler noted. Of the five students on the bus, he said one bounced
from their seat, two bounced into each other, and the oth- ers “just bounced.” Paramedics evaluated the students and released them on scene. Two students later complained of aches, Chandler added, but there were no lasting injuries. The bus driver required a chiropractic visit. “Would seatbelts have prevented injuries? Maybe
three-point, but not lap belt only,” said Chandler. Chandler added that his district has a newer Type A
bus with integrated lap/shoulder seatbelts used on a route for special education students. He shared that he doesn’t believe new bus purchases will have seatbelts as compliance is difficult with the older, larger-sized students. He added compartmentalization is “good for the most part” and expressed concerns about evacuation
22 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
