Transport Canada currently applies 37 federal safety standardsto the design and construction of school buses manufactured inor imported into Canada. These standards address such safety featuresas brake systems, lighting, emergency exits, seat strength andpadding, and tires.

Federal standards currently call for high­backed seats madeof soft, energy-absorbing materials to retain occupants in theirplace in the event of an accident. Information from all typesof school bus collisions demonstrates that the current schoolbus design provides a high level of protection to occupants.

Based on its accident research analysis, Transport Canadahas determined that seat belts may actually adversely affectthe safety of children on school buses. For example, school buscrash tests conducted by the department revealed that lap­beltedoccupants would be more likely to sustain serious head and neckinjuries than would unbelted occupants in frontal collisions.

The department also believes that combination lap and shoulderbelts could pose problems, because they cannot be adjusted tosafely restrain smaller children and any slackness could injurea child. In addition, these seat belts would require thepresence of stiff seats for installation, which could cause injuryto an unbelted child.

To ensure that safety regulations provide a high level of protection to school bus occupants, Transport Canada continually analysesschool bus accident data and reviews standards regularly to takeinto account emerging safety-related issues.