After the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a meeting July 23 to review the Highway Accident Report on a school bus–truck collision near Chesterfield, N.J., it issued recommendations to industry associations such as the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), NAPT and NSTA. Now, NASDPTS has joined the others in responding to the board’s call for them to spread the word about lap-shoulder belts providing even greater protection on school buses.
NASDPTS President Max Christensen noted that the NTSB report pointed out numerous student-transportation concerns related to school-bus driver fatigue, medications, medical examinations and driver training as well as school-bus crashworthiness and occupant injuries.
“The report also reinforces the previous position of NASDPTS supporting the installation and use of lap-shoulder belts in school buses, provided appropriate funding is made available to do so,” stated Christenson. “(NASDPTS) supports the findings and looks forward to working with NAPT, NSTA, SBMTC and others in support of the NTSB safety recommendations.”
He added that the findings will serve as a “roadmap” for making school-bus transportation safer than ever before.
NTSB called on the three industry associations to improve the safety of school buses by urging members to consider purchasing school buses equipped with lap and shoulder belts.
“In summary, staff believes that the Chesterfield and Port St. Lucie accidents underline the importance of seat belts on school buses,” according to the meeting transcript. “Staff believes that lap belts provide a benefit to most passengers who wear them properly, but the addition of shoulder belts would reduce flailing injuries. Finally, staff believes that additional training is needed for students, school bus drivers, parents, and staff.”
The NTSB requested that NAPT, NSTA, NASDPTS, the School Bus Manufacturer’s Technical Council and the National Safety Council’s School Transportation Section provide association members with educational materials on lap-shoulder belts, which offer “the highest level of protection for school bus passengers.” The board asked the organizations to advise states and/or school districts to consider this type of belt, rather than lap belts, when purchasing seat belt–equipped school buses.
In both accidents, which occurred a month apart, the school buses were equipped with lap belts, which investigators found were inconsistently worn by students, and if worn, were often not adjusted correctly. They noted that the fatally injured New Jersey victim most likely was not belted at the time of the crash.
Investigators identified other safety issues in the Chesterfield bus-truck accident as well, including school bus driver fatigue, his undisclosed medical issues, an inadequate CDL exam and the dump truck’s speed and brake system, according to the meeting transcript.
In response to the recommendations, NAPT President Michael Martin said the NTSB’s in-depth investigation added valuable new information to the ongoing discussion about improving passenger crash protection in a school bus.
He added that it is essential for state and local policymakers to have information like this, which is based on fact-based analysis and testing, as well as guidance based on data and science rather than emotions, when they make decisions that will improve the passenger crash protection system in large school buses.
“We have the highest regard for the NTSB and the work it does in all its crash investigations,” stated Martin. “We look forward to working with the NTSB and (NHTSA) to evaluate the practicability of implementing the recommendations that have been offered today.”
NSTA echoed those remarks when it responded to the NTSB guidance and expressed gratitude that the board has validated its long-standing recommendation on this issue.
“NSTA’s 2007 Statement on Occupant Protection notes that the proper usage of seat belts is very important and recommends that any requirement for safety restraints should include a mandate for usage and a mandate that school districts include training on the proper use and adjustment of lap-shoulder belts in their annual school-bus safety training,” said NSTA President Tim Flood.
