The New York Association for Pupil Transportation (NYAPT) represents over 600 school transportation professionals from all across New York State. Our association is single-minded in our concern for the safety of the 2.2 million school children in our care each day of the year. Accordingly, we have invested our time and resources in compiling a random member survey relating to current practices, data and opinions relating to two important issues: mandatory seat belt usage on school buses and elimination of standees on school buses.

Current Laws In New York State
Current New York State law requires that school buses purchased after July 1, 1987, be equipped with seat belts. New York State law does not require seat belts to be worn on Type I school buses; rather it leaves to local districts the decision as to whether such seat belts must be worn by students or others travelling on the buses. In addition, New York State law does not prohibit standees on school buses, while again leaving local policy-makers the option of disallowing standees.

There will be much discussion about these issues in light of the statutory requirement that the Education Department report to the Legislature on seat belt usage in New York State. Moreover, there is currently legislation under consideration that would mandate seat belt usage and related legislation that would prohibit standees on school buses. As these initiatives are debated and negotiated, it is important that policy-makers have adequate and appropriate information available to them.

1996 NYAPT Member Survey
In the fall of 1996, NYAPT commissioned a random survey to be conducted by two graduate students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The survey involved 43 members of the association with each respondent contacted by phone to be interviewed on questions which had been faxed to them for the purpose of allowing them to prepare and to have accurate information during the interview.

Summary of Key Responses
In summary, the survey found that most respondents oppose mandatory seat belt usage and are in favor of the elimination of standees. This is consistent with current practice in school districts in the most districts do not mandate seat belts usage, and, where standees are allowed, they are minimized by effective routing practices.

Of those members responding to the survey:

• 93% reported seat belt usage as not mandated in their school districts

• 53% reported that standees are allowed in their school districts

• 84% were opposed to mandatory seat belt usage

• 79% were in favor of elimination of standees from school buses
  

The NYAPT members surveyed raised several policy and practice questions that need to be discussed and resolved relative to any efforts to mandate seat belt usage on school buses:

• How many school buses will need to be purchased or retrofitted if seat belt usage is mandated?

• How will the mandate be enforced and by whom and at what costs?

• Is it feasible to have a generic seat belting system accommodate students in grades K-12?

• Are current lap belts adequate? Are they themselves potential sources of injuries or risk of injury?

• How will additional costs be met? Is there additional aid for this purpose?

Survey Background Information
The profile of the responding districts includes the following information:

• Total bus fleets averaged 41 buses (37 District-owned/4 contracted services)

• An average of 31 of the 41 buses are of the Type I variety

• 72% with bus fleets aged 6-10 years

• 74% of their bus fleets were Type I Buses

• 82% of those Type I buses are equipped with seat belts

• Average number of pupils transported is 2471 in the morning and 2455 in the afternoon, with the average number of students in the districts at 2877

• Average number of school facilities is 4.5 in the districts surveyed

In addition, a review of the current policies and practices in the surveyed districts includes the following:

• Three of the 43 districts currently mandate seat belt use at some levels (two mandate use for all students and one for pre-K only)

• 23 of the 43 (16 for grades K-12, 7 for grades 4-12) districts currently allow standees

As for the background of the individuals responding to the survey:

• Average of 8 years in current supervisory position with over 17 years average school transportation experience

Prior NYAPT Survey Efforts
In 1993, NYAPT conducted its first seat belt survey. The significant difference between the two surveys lies in the fact that the requirement that all post-1987 school buses be seat belt equipped has been in effect longer and fewer pre-1987 buses remain in service. However, in terms of issued raised and overall policy reactions, NYAPT members have remained consistent in their positions and practices in this regard.

Acknowledgments
NYAPT thanks RPI graduate students, William Carr and Steve Cohn for their efforts in preparing and completing this survey.