About School Bus Safety in American

About School Bus Safety in American

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The most exciting moment in a child's life is also the moment every parent dreads. The child gets on the school bus and leaves for school on his own, without Mom or Dad to hold his hand and deposit him safely in his classroom. Parents deal with many emotions over this milestone and one of the biggest concerns is about the safety of the school bus itself. Many parents wonder it if would be safer to drive the child to school each day, leading some parents to choose this option. Learning about school bus safety can help parents make an informed decision about letting the child ride the big yellow bus to school each day.

Bus Structure：School buses are held to a much higher quality standard than an average vehicle. Every joint in the structure must be stronger and more stable than a normal car. The roof of a school bus is designed to withstand rolling without caving. The fuel tanks on school buses are specially designed to be less likely to leak or break open during a crash, which can cause an explosion. Overall, the federal government has 13 regulations which specify the safety tests a school bus must pass. The laws are much more stringent than those of everyday transportation. In addition, the design of a school bus makes it safer during a crash. Its large structure allows it to absorb impact, protecting the passengers

Seat Belts：Most school buses do not have seat belts. This is because the seats on buses are designed to absorb the impact of a crash and they are designed also to cushion the child between the seats. Seats on a school bus are purposely close together. This is called compartmentalizing. Each seat serves as a safely cushioned protective zone for the child. Repeated studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association have shown that children are hurt more by the seat belt than by the crash itself.

Inspection：Although school bus inspection requirements vary from state to state, most require periodic testing throughout the school year, with a major inspection of all buses taking place before the beginning of the school year. Many states require that a state highway patrol officer perform the annual inspections. The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) suggests that a neutral third party be responsible for inspections. NAPT also advocates a national minimum criteria for school bus inspection.

Preschoolers：Preschoolers need to be restrained in car seats. Even on school buses, the compartmentalizing that holds school age children in place will not work for smaller children. In response to this safety need, buses are being fitted with the LATCH system. The LATCH system involves small hooks in the seat of a vehicle. A special strap loops