Bus seat belt use studied

ESCANABA — Debate has surrounded the issue of whether children are really safer wearing seat belts on school buses, but until seat belts are proven to be the safer option, Michigan won’t make the change.

Only five states in the U.S. currently have a seat belt requirement for children in school buses. Randy Rice, Escanaba School District director of transportation, said the seat belt debate has gone on nationally since 1977, but officials in Michigan haven’t found them to be safer.

“The state police in Lansing have done tests and have found no data saying kids are safer wearing seat belts and the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration found that not having seat belts is the safest way to go,” said Rice.

The main reason Michigan hasn’t made seat belts a requirement, according to Rice, is because they may only be of help in certain types of crashes.

“There have been some crashes where seat belts have helped, and some where they’ve caused more harm,” he said. “There are just as many arguments for seat belts as against.”

As of now, buses without seat belts rely on the safety of compartmentalization, a concept Rice compared to eggs in an egg carton.

“Seats are close together, they are very high and padded. It’s like a passive restraint on the passengers,” he explained.

Safety tests with school buses have gone on for years, and the findings have showed definite problems with certain types of restraint.

“They have found that lap belts, alone, are actually very dangerous,” he said.

“Because a child’s lower spine is not as developed as an adult’s, they could receive abdominal injuries in a crash by wearing one.”

While lap belts alone are unsafe, Rice said a three point harness-like those in regular vehicles are a possible solution. He also mentioned the possibility of a four point harness — which comes over both shoulders, like those in a race cars.

“There is a good safety record now, without seat belts, but I do think they do need to continue to look at possible improvements,” said Rice. “Nothing has changed in the past 30 years, and with technological advances you’d think there would be something to make it better,” he said.

Rice said while there isn’t one this year, there has been seat belt legislation in Michigan in past years.

However, Rice said he thinks eventually seat belts will become a requirement in Michigan because parents have shown concern.

“I have gotten calls from parents, asking why there are seat belts on the Head Start buses and not on regular ones,” said Rice. “I explain to them it’s because the Head Start buses are smaller and closer in size to a truck or regular vehicle, while regular buses are 24,000 pounds.”

Rice said the reason seat belts are necessary in a regular vehicle and not on a bus is because buses are higher off the ground and much heavier, giving them the advantage on the road.

Rice said Michigan is more concerned with whether seat belts are actually safer than with what it would cost to install them, although doing so would be expensive and would reduce passenger capacity.

Rice said the biggest safety concern right now is not even the issue of seat belts, but the fact that many drivers are committing stop arm violations — not stopping when a mechanical arm stop sign on a school bus is pulled out and flashing red lights warn drivers to stop at least 100 feet behind for loading and unloading children.

“Transportation directors statewide have been meeting and asking the state to look at ways to educate the public on stopping,” said Rice. “Many feel this is where Michigan should put the money, instead of into seat belts. I know our bus drivers feel that way.”

Rice said spring is often the most dangerous time for children and school buses, because it’s the end of the school year and other drivers become complacent about stopping.