The Houston Independent School District bus that fell off an overpass and killed two students was equipped with seat belts. But riders weren’t required to wear them. Now a discussion has turned to those safety belt regulations.
The topic of seat belt use in school buses has been debated for decades. Studies show lap belts can provide a minor boost to safety on an already secure mode of transportation. But employing them would be cost-inefficient and difficult to enforce.
“School buses are already safe” said Jay Lindly, director of the University Transportation Center for Alabama (UTCA) at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. “They’ll get a little bit safer if you put in seat belts.” Sources: The Houston Chronicle, WAAY ABC 31, District Administration