Using Safety Belts on School Buses: Lifesavers Report 2007
SafeGuard president Steve Wallen described the Safeguard school bus seat with lap-shoulder belts. The seat provides compartmentalization for the passengers behind as well as restraint for the child in the seat, so the seat behind can be occupied by an unrestrained passenger. (Where tethered CRs or vests anchored with a cam-wrap strap are installed on a conventional school bus seat, the seat behind must not be occupied by an unrestrained passenger because the restraint may impede the flexing of the seat back needed for compartmentalization.)

Adding built-in safety belts to the bus seat may limit bus capacity; a typical bus with conventional seats holding three (small- to medium-sized) passengers on each side of the aisle would only be able to fit three on one side and two on the other with belt-equipped seats. (The other maker of bus seats with integrated CRs or safety belts, CE White, says its seat provides compartmentalization  as well.)

Derek Graham, head of transportation services for North Carolina, spoke about that state’s experience of a pilot program using school buses equipped with lap-shoulder belts.  In 2003, 13 buses equipped with lap-shoulder belts were placed in 11 school districts in North Carolina. Some training was given both drivers and passengers.  There was no requirement to use the safety belts, but some drivers insisted on it. Aside from the capacity reduction (from 3-3 to 3-2 across), the reactions of both children and parents were positive. Graham warned that reduced capacity could lead to busing of fewer children and therefore more passengers riding in private vehicles, a less safe alternative.

The biggest benefit was behavior change and better student management.  Drivers liked the safety belts because students didn’t get up and change seats as much. Usage of the belts was estimated at 50 to 75 percent for elementary students but close to zero for middle school and high school riders. Capacity for high school students (if wearing belts) was more realistically 2-1. Vandalism was not a major problem.  
©Safe Ride News, May/June 2007