seatbelts should be mandatory on school buses. An overwhelming number of student transporters raised their hands. Hollander com-
32%
with lap/ shoulder belts have a policy on mandating
student use (Out of 129 responses.)
mented that in just several years, she has seen a huge shift in the acceptance of occupant restraint systems. While transportation directors are becoming more in favor of lap/shoulder belts for the safety and behavioral improvements, one attendee said he would like to see the bus manufacturers make an additional change to ensure it is not only students on routes who benefit.. Bruce Bluemel, transportation supervisor at Uinta County School District #6 in Wyo- ming, said he is an advocate of seatbelts, and recognizes the importance of installing them on school buses. But he shared a concern that the current spacing between the rows of bench seats means some larger children are not able to fit. “I do want seatbelts. I think they are very critical to what we do, and I think they are huge-
ly important,” he added. “[But being able to] incorporate them and make all the kids safe and not just a few, would be the ultimate goal for me.” Bluemel explained that his school buses travel long distances throughout the state to foot-
ball and basketball games. He said that sometimes trips can be up to seven hours long, one way. Some of the student athletes on these trips are almost 7 feet tall and weigh 250 pounds or more, so he said lap/shoulder seatbelts clearly cannot accommodate their frames. “What I have asked for is an opportunity to separate the seats a little more when the seat-
belts are incorporated,” Bluemel said. “Then the compartmentation is no longer necessary, because the seatbelts are going to take care of that.” ●
SEE US AT BOOTH 401 36 School Transportation News • OCTOBER 2019
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