Seat Belts Considered for School Buses

Federal highway safety officials are launching a major review of school bus safety and drafting guidelines that could lead to the installation of some seat belts in buses carrying children 4 and younger. The $1-million, two-year research program will include a search of all school bus crash data and agency crash testing and will look at all possible safety upgrades, including padding the sides and roofs of buses or adding padded arm rests. The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration also expects by October to complete guidelines recommending that new buses transporting children 4 or younger have lap belts or anchors to secure children.