School Buses

School districts may require seatbelts if they wish, but many districts who have tried seatbelts have dropped the requirement due to the many practical problems with their use. Moreover, decades of study by the Federal government and others have shown repeatedly that seatbelts in school buses are not warranted. Instead, government regulations concerning higher seat backs, shorter front to back seat spacing, and fully padded surfaces provide passive restraint generally called "compartmentalization ," much like the protection of egg in a partitioned egg container. Studies document that this system provides greater protection to young passengers than do seatbelts in full-sized school buses. In the case of smaller vehicles such as vans and passenger cars the use of seatbelts is definitely encouraged and is generally required by law or regulation.

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