[Return to Home Page ] [Title Page ] [Preface to 1996 Edition ] [About the Author ] [Foreword to 1990 Edition ] [Table of Contents ] [Main Body ] [Appendix A. Compartmentalization ] [Appendix B. TRB Special Report 222, May 1989 ] [Appendix C. Endorsements ] [Appendix D. Testimonials ] [Appendix E. Studies and Recommendations ] [Appendix F. Legalities ] [INDEX ] [Responses To This Site ] [Related Sites ]
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©Stephen A. Langford, Oro Valley, Arizona, 7 September 1996
Page Count: 54 of 79
Page 44
APPENDIX G. GUIDELINES TO SEATBELT IMPLEMENTATION
Some guidelines to seatbelt implementation follow.
INSTALLATION AND RETROFITTING
NCSSB Suggestions
p. 90: "Young children find it easier to fasten belts on the front center of the abdomen. Also, larger children find it difficult to buckle a belt at the side hip position when seated three to a seat. Therefore NCSSB recommends that the short end be 16 [inches long] and the long end be 29 [inches long] from where the seat back meets the seat cushion. This permits an easier center abdomen fastening of the seat belt. The aisle positions must have the short 16 [inch] end to avoid a tripping hazard. The belts should be attached to the posterior seat frame under the seat cushion and not to the walls of the bus or the leg of the seat. The color of the webbing for the middle seating position when there are three belts per seat, should differ from the color of the webbing of the two outside sets of belts. The buckles should be light-weight and only one end of the belt should be adjustable, not both ends; similar buckle ends should be attached at the aisle positions so the belts can't be attached across the aisle" (Suggested Guidelines for Seat Belt Installation in Large Type I School Buses, National Coalition for Seatbelts on School Buses (NCSSB)).
Physicians for Automotive Safety (PAS) Suggestions
p. 16: "Based on the information gathered and experience gained, PAS has formulated the following guidelines for bringing about a higher level of bus passenger protection.
a) New buses should be ordered with 28-inch seat backs -- four inches higher than the federal standard requires, but in line with New York State regulations.
b) Seat belts should be installed at the time of manufacture.
To facilitate matching up of the correct set of belts, the webbing of each of the three sets of belts installed in a seat should be of a different color" (From Spring--Fall 1980 Physicians for Automotive Safety "PAS News").
p. 17: "It is ... required that drivers of all buses, regardless of size, wear belts; the intent is to keep them securely behind the wheel and in control of the vehicle. This ruling should be enforced.
"It is also important that school curricula include instruction in belt use to encourage children to use belts in cars [in all vehicles!--S.L.]" (From Spring-Fall 1980 Physicians for Automotive Safety "PAS News").
STATE LEGISLATION, GENERIC EXAMPLE
p. 55: [The following is somewhat modified, but is for the most part a quotation (though lacking quotation marks), which is based upon the example given on the cited page.--S.L.]
That Section __________ of the General Statutes is hereby amended to require that all new Type I Vehicle(1) school buses ordered for use in this state, on and after the effective date of this act, be equipped with seat belts in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Standards #208, #209, #210.(2) In the event of any action arising out of an accident, no evidence shall be offered relative to whether seat belts were being used.(3)
1) Type I Vehicles are those having a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) in excess of 10,000 lbs. This refers to the standard 66 or 72 passenger size school bus. Type II vehicles (small school buses or converted vans) are required by federal law to be equipped with seat belts and meet existing Federal Motor Vehicle Standards.
2) Federal Motor Vehicle Standards #208 for seat belt buckles, #209 for seat belts, #210 for seat belt anchorages. These standards exist for Type II vehicles. No standards exist for the Type I Vehicles. By making these standards applicable to Type I vehicles, establishing guidelines will eliminate the possibility of haphazard installation, with the potential failure of the restraint in the event of an accident.
3) This wording is also found in the child restraint seat laws and now the passenger restraint laws. It tends to eliminate the fear of increased liability as a result of the seat belts for the bus companies, bus contractors, bus drivers, school boards, etc.
(This Sample State Legislation was prepared by Barbara J. Russell, Vice President, National Coalition for Seatbelts on School Buses.)
[Return to Home Page ] [Title Page ] [Preface to 1996 Edition ] [About the Author ] [Foreword to 1990 Edition ] [Table of Contents ] [Main Body ] [Appendix A. Compartmentalization ] [Appendix B. TRB Special Report 222, May 1989 ] [Appendix C. Endorsements ] [Appendix D. Testimonials ] [Appendix E. Studies and Recommendations ] [Appendix F. Legalities ] [INDEX ] [Responses To This Site ] [Related Sites ]
©Stephen A. Langford, Oro Valley, Arizona, 29 September 1996. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This document may be freely transmitted in its entirety, so long as no monies are earned during the transaction/s. Permission is required for any and all other pertinent circumstances. ----------------------------------- page break ------------------------------------- (Metering for this page begun 3 September 1996.)
