Missouri Governor Calls for 3-pt
Seat Belts on School Buses

By Ryan Gray | Senior Editor

LIBERTY, Mo. - Missouri appears to be next in line to introduce legislation requiring 3-point lap/shoulder belts for school buses.

Gov. Matt Blunt announced findings of a special school bus task force he formed over the spring and went a step beyond its recommendation that school districts look into the occupant restraints on an individual basis. He called for a bill that would make them mandatory in all newly purchased school buses.

"Adding seat belts are a needed step to protect over 500,000 children who depend on Missouri school bus transportation everyday," he said. "I will work with legislators in the upcoming session to draft and pass a statewide school bus seatbelt requirement."

The state department of education and the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that nearly 12,000 school buses were inspected this year, with school districts owning over 7,000 and contractors owning just over 4,500. The remainder were Head Start or private school buses.

Blunt added that he will work with legislators to fund schools with the necessary money.

"The added cost to our state is worth it to protect the lives of Missouri children," he said."

A Missouri Department of Public Safety spokesperson said the task force supports Gov. Blunt's appeal to legislators.

Safety vs. Cost

The statement was applauded by the National Coalition for School Bus Safety. Midwest Regional Director Jim Freed gave a presentation to the task force earlier in the summer on the need for the occupant restraints.

He said installing lap/shoulder belts on school buses should cost anywhere between $3,000 and $8,000 per vehicle. He also cited a 1985 study conducted by the University of Texas School of Medicine found that the installation of seat belts would pay for themselves, compared to the $13.5 million spent annually to treat motor vehicle injury costs.

"Can you get me that price because I've heard more than that," said Donald Fowler of Fowler Bus Company in Richmond. He said he's been meeting with Blue Bird, IC Corp and Thomas Built Buses to collect data that can be passed along to state officials. "I was told around $10,000 and I was told $20,000. We really don't know. It depends on the size of the bus."

He added that if ever the Missouri School Bus Contractor's Association needed a lobbyist, now is the time. But it was questionable if the association would have enough money.

Also at issue is the 3-2 seating rule, which Fowler said could be jeopardized by the lap/shoulder harnesses.

Freed doesn't buy it.

"After 3 rd grade, you can't get three kids in a seat anymore and violate FMVSS 222," he said. "No one has ever tested three per seat so why are we allowing it? That might be a hard line, but to me, that's like a smoking gun."

Task Force Recommendations

On Aug. 15, the task force recommended against retrofitting existing school buses with lap/shoulder belts and that legislation be introduced granting immunity to school districts, school bus operators "and their employees or agents" from claims resulting from "a child's use, non-use or misuse" of the occupant restraint.

"The findings of the Bus Safety Task Force have provided great direction for me and out state legislature. We will be able to move forward in making Missouri safer for our children," Blunt said.

Additional task force recommendations the governor approves include updating the 40-hour school bus driver training curriculum and the development of a series of one-hour driver trainer modules to be presented throughout the school year. This includes annual training to teachers and students on proper school bus loading and unloading procedures and proper onboard behavior, with the individual school verifying compliance with the department of education.

Blunt supports the reinstatement of a full-time, dedicated state director of pupil transportation. School bus training currently falls under the jurisdiction of Tom Quinn, the director of school governance. To increase security, the state will consider adding bus monitors and expand the use of GPS, two-way radios, surveillance cameras, PA systems inside and outside the bus, and heated mirrors.

The governor also wants to expand public information campaigns to educate motorists on bus safety issues and include bus safety traffic laws in all high school driver education programs.

Missouri does not currently have a dedicated state pupil transportation director. The task force recommended the position return and Blunt agreed.

"I don't know what's going to happen," said Tom Quinn, director of school governance and de-facto pupil transportation director. "The things I do, I would likely not be in that role."