NAPT Press Release
August 3, 1998

ALBANY, N.Y. - The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) has called for federal Regulators to evaluate the technology issues that are at the heart of the ongoing debate about whether school buses should be equipped with lap belts.

"Although a school bus is the safest mode of transportation in America," said NAPT President Don M. Carnahan, "We're always looking for way to make school buses and school bus passengers safer. That's why we strongly encourage the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to re-evaluate lap belt technology in a school bus crash test situation."

NHTSA was recently directed by Congress (in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) to conduct a study to assess occupant safety in school buses. NAPT wants NHTSA to make a specific effort to update lap belt crash tests as part of that study.

"The last comprehensive, federally funded study of school bus occupant protection was conducted over two decades ago," said Carnahan. "Since that time, we have strongly supported a position that was adopted by special resolution of the delegates at the 11th National Conference on School Transportation (NCST) in 1990 - and reaffirmed by the delegates at the 12th NCST in 1995 - that federal, state and local governments should discourage the mandatory use of seat (i.e. lap) belts on large school buses until scientific research proves seat (i.e. lap) belts to be more effective in preventing injury than compartmentalization."

Compartmentalization is an engineering design that incorporates heavily padded, high-backed closely Spaced seats that are anchored to the bus floor and specifically designed to absorb a great deal of force. The integrated design protects school bus passengers in a "compartment" of safety. Both NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have heretofore endorsed compartmentalization as the Safest, most effective way to ensure school bus occupant protection.

"Seat belts in cars and lap belts on school buses are completely different safety issues," said Carnahan. "It is important that the general public, especially parents, understand the differences."

Automobiles utilize a three-point restraint system that is commonly referred to as a seat belt. The restraint integrates a lap belt that is anchored on either side of a person's hips (2 points) with a shoulder strap that is anchored to the automobile frame (1 point) and provides important upper torso support. The school bus restraint that is commonly referred to as a "seat belt" is the lap belt (2 point) only system.

"There is no real evidence that the addition of lap belts will make compartmentalization more effective. So unless and until scientific data conclusively shows that lap belts will make students who ride school buses safer, we will continue to endorse and promote compartmentalization as the safest way to transport children in a school bus," he said.

Every school day, over 400,000 yellow school buses transport 25 million students nearly 240 million miles. These numbers make the school transportation system the largest fleet of ground transportation in the United States. It is also the safest. According to NHTSA, the school bus occupant fatality rate is 0.2 for every 100 million miles traveled. In comparison, the automobile accident fatality rate is 1.5 for every 100 million miles traveled - nearly 7 ½ times higher.

"Our number one priority is the safety of the kids who ride a school bus," Carnahan continued, "and we hope that anyone who is interested in improving school bus transportation keeps this focus clearly in mind as well."

For more information contact:

The National Association for
Pupil Transportation (NAPT)
Four Tower Place, Executive Park
Albany, NY 12203-0847
800/989-NAPT (6278); 518/437-1883
Mike Martin - Executive Director