CONCORD, N.C. — Federal safety officials are urging stronger seatbelt usage by students and increased awareness of dangers around school buses following a series of high-profile crashes, including a recent fatal incident under investigation in Tennessee.
In providing the parting takeways at STN EXPO East conference last month, Meg Sweeney, lead investigator and project manager for the National Transportation Safety Board, outlined how ongoing investigations and previous crash reconstructions are shaping new safety recommendations aimed at protecting student passengers and pedestrians.
“Our mission is to investigate crashes, determine a probable cause and then write recommendations to prevent future similar crashes,” Sweeney told attendees during the final conference session March 31.
The NTSB recently launched a “go team” to Tennessee after a fatal school bus crash killed two middle school students, though Sweeney said details remained limited in the early stages of the investigation. The crash took the lives of two middle school girls and parents of the deceased have since filed a lawsuit against the district and the driver.
The agency is also examining a separate student dragging fatality, underscoring the risks students face not only inside the bus but also in Danger Zone, the area immediately surrounding the vehicle during loading and unloading.
Sweeney said the agency focuses on crashes with the greatest potential to improve safety outcomes. With only about 35 staff members in its highway division, the NTSB investigates roughly 15 to 20 crashes annually out of tens of thousands reported nationwide.
“With a staff of 35 people… we have to be really selective in the crashes that we investigate,” she said, noting that cases often involve recurring safety issues or high public interest.
A key focus of recent investigations has been occupant protection, particularly the effectiveness of lap/shoulder seatbelts compared to traditional lap-only restraints or compartmentalization.
“We know and recognize that there are several other types of crashes,” Sweeney said, explaining that while compartmentalization works well in frontal impacts, it is less effective in rollovers, side impacts and other complex crash scenarios.
In multiple investigations, including crashes in Texas and New Jersey, the agency found lap-only belts provide limited protection. “They can provide a benefit… if they’re worn properly,” Sweeney said, but passengers remain “very vulnerable to injury from the flailing upper body.”
In the Leander ISD Texas rollover crash, that Director of Transportation Tracie Franco also presented during the conference, only six of 42 observed students were wearing seatbelts, and most were wearing them incorrectly. Students who were restrained were less likely to be thrown from their seats or ejected, though injuries still occurred due to the severity of the crash.
Based on such findings, the NTSB has repeatedly called on states to require lap/shoulder belts on large school buses and to strengthen enforcement of proper usage through driver training, onboard monitoring and clearer district policies.
Danger Zone Risks Examined
Beyond the bus interior, Sweeney emphasized that some of the most dangerous moments for students occur outside the vehicle.
One of the most dangerous areas for the student is the zone within about 10 feet of the bus, she said, particularly during pickup and drop-off times.
In a 2018 Indiana crash, a pickup truck traveling about 41 mph struck and killed four students crossing to board a stopped school bus despite warning lights and an extended stop-arm.
Other cases have highlighted the role of distracted driving. In Wisconsin, a teenage driver exchanging text messages struck a school bus and fatally hit a student moments later.
To address these risks, the NTSB has recommended stronger enforcement of stop-arm violations, expanded use of camera systems to catch illegal passing, and new vehicle technologies such as automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection systems.
“We asked school districts to work with law enforcement to create educational campaigns and high-visibility enforcement,” Sweeney said.
Despite the risks and ongoing challenges, Sweeney stressed that school buses remain the safest form of student transportation in the U.S.
“We advocate and tell people school buses are the safest way to transport a student,” she said.
Still, industry leaders at the session warned that driver shortages, operational challenges and declining ridership could increase risks if more families rely on personal vehicles instead of buses.
The Tennessee crash investigation is expected to produce a preliminary report in the coming months, with a final report, including safety recommendations, likely more than a year away.
Written with assistance from AI.
Related: California School Bus Report Shows Lap/Shoulder Seatbelts Reduce Injuries
Related: NTSB Calls for Seatbelt Polices, Procedures Following Texas School Bus Crash
Related: School Bus Seatbelt Law Appears Imminent in Illinois
Related: (STN Podcast E251) Making Safety Safer: Seatbelts, Technology, Training & Electric School Buses
