|
|
An
increasing number of pre-school age children are being transported
to and from early childhood development programs, including
Head Start and Early Head Start. The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the Federal Agency responsible
for assessing and improving the safety of transportation.
In February 1999, NHTSA issued the "Guideline for the Safe
Transportation of Pre-School Age Children in School Buses".
NHTSA recently conducted tests to determine the safest method
to transport pre-school children on school buses. The use
of seat belts, child safety seats, and available spacing
between bus seats were considered. Based on the results,
NHTSA determined that pre-school children traveling on school
buses are best protected when seated in age and weight appropriate
child safety restraint systems. Specific recommendations
are as follows:
-
Each child should be transported in a Child Safety Restraint
System (suitable for the child's weight and age) that
meets applicable Federal Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (FMVSS).
-
Each child should be properly secured in the Child Safety
Restraint System.
-
The Child Safety Restraint System should be properly secured
to the School bus seat, using anchorages that meet FMVSS.
The
entire "Guideline
for the Safe Transportation of Pre-School Age Children in
School Buses" is enclosed. It contains additional information
regarding safety recommendations. Additionally, we enclosed
NHTSA's publication titled "School Bus Safety: Safe Passage
for America's Children." The second document specifies the
history and research findings of the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards required for school buses.
|
