School buses transport nearly 25 million children daily across the United States. While some states mandate seat belts on school buses, the majority still do not require them, raising concerns about student safety in the event of an accident. The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates that nearly 25 million children ride in a school bus each year.
To ensure the safety of kids in school buses, some states require seat belts on large buses. However, the scary fact is that there are no seat bus laws in the majority of states in the US.
In this post, we will highlight e the dangers of not wearing seat belts, and states have made seat belts mandatory on large school buses.
Why Seat Belts on School Buses Are Important?
Seat belts are proven to reduce the severity of injuries and save lives. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts saved approximately 15,000 lives in 2017. In the same year, around 2,500 deaths were attributed to failure to use seat belts. Wearing seat belts in light trucks reduces fatal injury risk by 60 percent and moderate injury risk by 65 percent.
Wearing seat belts keeps the individual secure inside a vehicle. It prevents an individual to be ejected out during a crash that usually proves to be fatal. Studies have shown that buckling up in a light truck can reduce the risk of fatal injuries by almost 60 percent. Moreover, the risk of moderate injuries reduces by about 65 percent due to wearing seat belts.
What States Have Laws for Seat Belts on School Buses?
Despite the obvious danger of not wearing seat belts in a bus, only eight states have made it mandatory to have seat belts on school buses: Arkansas, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.
New York
New York State seat belt law states that all school buses made after July 1, 1987, that transport children to school should have seat belts. However, the state does not require students to use the belts; enforcement is left to individual school districts.
New Jersey
New Jersey state laws go a step further and require all school buses should not only have seat belts but passengers are required to wear them as well. The seat belt needs to be properly adjusted and fastened in conformity to the applicable federal rules.
Arkansas
Arkansas requires seat belts on school buses purchased after January 1, 2018, in compliance with federal safety standards under House Bill 1002.
California
The seat belt laws in California have also made it mandatory for school buses to have seat belts. Every school bus that is manufactured after July 1, 2005 and that carries more than 16 passengers should have safety belts.
California mandates seat belts on school buses manufactured after July 1, 2004. A law passed in 2018 requires all school buses to be equipped with seat belts by 2035.
Florida
In Florida, school buses made after December 31, 2000, should have seat belts. The safety belts need to meet the standards as has been stated under section 316.614 Florida statute.
The law also states that all state and local jurisdictions, as well as public school systems, should carry out a public awareness program that informs the public about the use of safety belts. Violating the provision of the law is punishable as per Chapter 318 of the motor vehicle law.
Louisiana
Louisiana has also state laws regarding the seat belts on school buses. However, the state faces a funding shortage for implementing the law. As a result, most school buses in the state do not have seat belts.
Nevada
Nevada legislation had passed a new law in 2017 that requires three 3-points belts on school buses. The law requires that school buses that are purchased on or after July 1, 2019, should have seat belts.
Texas
Texas law mandates that school districts ensure new school buses are equipped with three-point shoulder-to-lap seat belts.
Florida along with Texas and California are the only states in the US that require three-point seat belts as in cars. Most other states require lap seat belts in school buses. Also, the seat belt laws in Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana are subject to approval or denial by local jurisdictions.
Seat Belt Laws in Other States
School seat belt laws are not implemented in states other than those listed above. This makes students at risk of serious injuries and fatalities in an event of a school bus accident. Dozens of students have been injured in school bus accidents in Las Vegas, Massachusetts, and Tennessee due to no laws regarding seat belts.
Even in states that have seat belt laws, many schools do not have seat belts on school buses. For instance, 10 students were ejected and 5 were killed in a school bus accident in California in 2014.
Lap-only seat belts don’t prevent serious injuries or fatalities. Studies have shown that lap-only seat belts offer limited protection and can cause head, abdominal, and spinal injuries. Three-point seat belts provide significantly better restraint and reduce the risk of severe trauma during crashes.
Final Words
National Transport Safety Board recommends that seat belts should be on every school bus. They help save lives and reduce the risk of serious injuries. The Safety Board has also recommended that schools with the lap seat belts should upgrade to the safer three belt seat belt.
If your child was injured or killed in a school bu accident, you should contact an experienced bus accident attorney. An experienced school bus accident lawyer will make sure that the guilty party is brought to justice and may be able to influence changes to the law in your state.
The chances of a successful school bus accident case outcome increase significantly when you get the help of an attorney. An attorney will make sure that you get full legal representation in the court.
With the help of an attorney, you can navigate through the complex state laws regarding school bus seat belts and see to it that the guilty party pays for negligence that resulted in injury or death of students.
