It was announced on the news this evening that Fort Wayne Community Schools has bought some new school buses that are equipped with seat belts (actually shoulder and lap). I was delighter to hear this. I've wondered for years why school buses, and tour buses for that matter, don't come equpped with seat belts in the USA. In addition to the obvious safety benefits if a bus is in an accident, if children are required to sit down and buckle up, I think it should make for a much safer driving atmosphere for the drivers. I was a teacher for some years and I've always said that I would much rather face a classroom of students than turn my back on those same students and drive them somewhere in a bus.
In England, Scotland and Whales, (and probably Ireland but I haven't been there recently) all tour buses are equpped with seat belts and the drivers are quite strict about making sure everyone is buckled in before they will start driving. The last time I was there our driver (who also wouldn't allow hot drinks on the bus) told us that the fine for not using a seatbelt was 300 pounds and if we were pulled over and caught with our seatbelt not on we would be required to pay our own fine.
It's kind of sad to have to threaten someone to insure that they do something for their own good but that's human nature I guess. I just hope that America pushes for seat belts on buses soon, especially school buses.
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