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beachgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name:
sara
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School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
Hi
My DD does not take the bus to school but she is scheduled to take the bus this thursday for a field trip - about 2.5 hours round trip.
This may seem like a silly question but is it safe to assumer there are seat belts on these buses and do they have any type of booster seat for 6 year olds?
Thanks
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Posted 10/2/12 10:40 AM  |
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OffWithHerHead23
Keep passing the open windows
Member since 10/06 3627 total posts
Name:
Meaghan
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
The teacher will probably encourage them to wear seatbelts, but they don't have to. There are no boosters or anything like that. It's not required for a school bus.
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| Posted 10/2/12 10:46 AM |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
They do not wear them on my child's elemetary school bus. From what I understand, the thought process is - for the younger set, it slows down evacuation time in the event of an emergency. Some kids may not be able to operate the belt themselves and so may just panic and not be able to free themselves. In the event of a necessary speedy evacuation, the driver would not have the time to run up and down the aisle's unlatching every child.
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| Posted 10/2/12 11:09 AM |
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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
My DD wears her seat belt every day. Her bus driver makes sure of it. She is 6 (in 1st grade), and also wore it all the time last year. And she told me she helped the Kindergarteners a few times to unlatch their seat belts. No boosters though.
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| Posted 10/2/12 11:32 AM |
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beachgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name:
sara
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
Thanks everyone...I actually emailed the head of the bus depot at school and he said there are seat belts but no boosters so I will be insisting DD wears one and will also ask her teacher to make sure she has one on....why this is not compulsory blows my mind!!!
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| Posted 10/2/12 2:13 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
School buses are built differently than vehicles. The reason that the seats are so high and close together is to produce an effect called compartmentalization. Statistically, the height, color, size etc lower their accident rates. Except lately it seems we've been hearing of many bus crashes, mostly minor though a few major.
Many buses now have lap belts on them, but through conversation with people I've found many buses don't use them because the kids use the buckles as weapons, or because they have false concerns that they can't get the kids off quickly etc. But, you should NEVER use a booster with a lap belt only. And buses that DO have a 3 point belt system usually will fit the average 1st grader because of the way they're installed.
If you have a special needs child or want increased protection in the form of a harness, there are these http://www.ezonpro.com/products/schoolBus/1086camHarness.shtml that can be used on buses.
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| Posted 10/2/12 3:41 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
DD said that her class had to take a bus to another school (her building is just K and 1st - and they all went to one of the Elementary schools for a show) - They were told to wear their seatbelts and my DD said all the kids wore them.
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| Posted 10/2/12 5:51 PM |
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mig
LIF Adolescent
Member since 11/10 888 total posts
Name:
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
I can tell you that parents are told by the bus company that the bus has lap belts but they tell children NOT to wear them because according to them, they are not 5 point harness belts and the seats are such that they are made to be safer than wearing a lap belt. I personally would want my child wearing a seat belt. I never really understood this and every district is different in the policy for seat belts on busses. Scary for sure.
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| Posted 10/2/12 5:59 PM |
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iluvmynutty
Mom to E&M
Member since 12/08 1762 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
The children must wear seatbelts on the bus at the SD where I work. The children have to be able to buckle and unbuckle it themselves.
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| Posted 10/2/12 6:09 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
Posted by mig
I can tell you that parents are told by the bus company that the bus has lap belts but they tell children NOT to wear them because according to them, they are not 5 point harness belts and the seats are such that they are made to be safer than wearing a lap belt. I personally would want my child wearing a seat belt. I never really understood this and every district is different in the policy for seat belts on busses. Scary for sure.
The reason is compartmentalization is actually safer than a lap belt.
Lap belts are scary and dangerous. There's a multitude of good reasons they're no longer in cars or trucks. There's very little benefit to using a lap belt only on a bus, and the belt itself can actually contribute to neck, spinal and internal injuries. This was actually documented in a study over 10 years ago. The only benefit found was that the lap belt could stop occupant ejection, usually in a rollover accident summary of study
Seatbelts in passenger vehicles just don't work the same way as they do on a school bus. Why don't school buses have seatbelts?
PS.. all my comments refer to the LARGE yellow school buses, not the smaller buses. I won't tell anyone to tell their child not to wear a lap belt only. There are alternate options (EZ On harness, for example) if you want them belted in. Do your research on the subject.
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| Posted 10/2/12 8:14 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
This obviously varies by district. My kindergartner does not ride the bus, but did on orientation day, and they are required to buckle up.
Can't quote the above, but I would rather my child end up with a chance of internal injuries than be ejected from a bus and killed. I wouldn't think the district would even allow the use of your own restraint system on a large bus. Not to mention who is going to show them how to use it? They don't typically let parents on the bus.
Message edited 10/2/2012 9:49:47 PM.
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| Posted 10/2/12 9:42 PM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
Name:
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School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
I don't understand why some districts require seat belts on buses and some dont. If I'm understanding correctly, it's safer NOT to use them (due to this "compartmentalization" on buses) - but for example, where I teach, we ALWAYS tell the kids to wear seat belts and they must do so at the beginning of every bus drill. What's the deal?!
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| Posted 10/2/12 9:50 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
Posted by BargainMama
This obviously varies by district. My kindergartner does not ride the bus, but did on orientation day, and they are required to buckle up.
Can't quote the above, but I would rather my child end up with a chance of internal injuries than be ejected from a bus and killed. I wouldn't think the district would even allow the use of your own restraint system on a large bus. Not to mention who is going to show them how to use it? They don't typically let parents on the bus.
If you are a parent of a special needs child, it could be written into your IEP, which was specifically why I pointed out special needs. Others may have to fight for it, but the option does exist for those who wish to pursue it. And that is just it: there are options. They may not be the most ideal options, but they do exist. No need to be dismissive of the option for those who may want or need it.
The majority of bus accidents are minor, the vast majority of occupants in a bus accident escape with little to no injury. Lap belts, however, have been known to cause "seat belt syndrome" in minor crashes resulting in severe internal injuries, paralyzation and yes, even death. This is why you no longer see them in cars in any seating position.
Why NY hasn't updated the law to either remove the lapbelts or to require the shoulder portion is beyond me. I would guess it is likely because there haven't been any situations which tested the issue and brought it front and center.
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| Posted 10/2/12 11:10 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
Posted by InShock
I don't understand why some districts require seat belts on buses and some dont. If I'm understanding correctly, it's safer NOT to use them (due to this "compartmentalization" on buses) - but for example, where I teach, we ALWAYS tell the kids to wear seat belts and they must do so at the beginning of every bus drill. What's the deal?!
I have no idea why some districts enforce it and others don't. I dread the issue with my kids, DD1 will be a bus rider next year. We are in CT now and only some districts have belts, and many don't use them here either.
It's a definite struggle as a parent and I'm sure for many educators as well. It's a struggle for me. Anyone who's been around for a while knows I always err on the side of caution, better safe than sorry etc so the stats and reports showing that the belt is the less safe option make me queasy and conflicted.
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| Posted 10/2/12 11:18 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: School bus - Seat Belts / boosters ?
Posted by tara73
Posted by BargainMama
This obviously varies by district. My kindergartner does not ride the bus, but did on orientation day, and they are required to buckle up.
Can't quote the above, but I would rather my child end up with a chance of internal injuries than be ejected from a bus and killed. I wouldn't think the district would even allow the use of your own restraint system on a large bus. Not to mention who is going to show them how to use it? They don't typically let parents on the bus.
If you are a parent of a special needs child, it could be written into your IEP, which was specifically why I pointed out special needs. Others may have to fight for it, but the option does exist for those who wish to pursue it. And that is just it: there are options. They may not be the most ideal options, but they do exist. No need to be dismissive of the option for those who may want or need it.
Special needs children usually ride a bus with a matron. They also offer different restraint options than a large bus. Your post said you were specifically talking about large buses, which is what I was responding to. I do believe that the district would have an issue with bringing your own restraint system onto a large school bus. It's not being dismissive.
Message edited 10/3/2012 1:39:47 PM.
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| Posted 10/3/12 1:39 PM |
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