• Crash tests and findings from Transport Canada demonstrate that, seat belts on school buses do not provide any significant safety benefit.

 

  • In a head-on collision, lap belts could actually increase the risk of head injuries. By holding the child’s pelvis firmly in place, the torso would whip forward; with the head striking the back of the seat in front of them with greater force than if the whole body had hit the seat.  This could result in serious head and neck injuries.

 

  • Combination lap and shoulder belts would require stiffer seats, which could increase injury to students who are not buckled up. The shoulder belts can lead to abdominal injuries because of “submarining” – when children slip down, risking injuries to organs covered by the lap belts.

 

  • In an emergency, seatbelts could hinder evacuation. Young children should not be placed in a situation where they are responsible for their safety.

 

  • School buses protect passengers through “Compartmentalization”, a design that includes:Compartmentalization

 

*  Seats with high backs;

*  Seats filled with energy-absorbing material;

*  Seats placed close together to form compartments;

*  Strong seat anchorages.

 

  • Statistically, the school bus is the safest of all vehicles on Canadian roads. Children are 16 times safer riding in a school bus compared to riding in a passenger vehicle.

 

The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.

 Tom Bodett quotes