Transportation Board mulls use of seat belts in school buses

"The school bus transporting childen to school carries the family's and society's most precious cargo," NTSB board member George Black said Wednesday during a hearing on bus crashworthiness. "Although any fatality in a motor vehicle accident is tragic, the death of a child is particularly so."

"It is is important that crash protection be built into school buses to the maximum extent possible," Black said.

The NTSB is considering whether seat belts should be standard equipment on school buses, an issue that has been debated for years. The agency is not expected to issue its findings until early next year.

The NTSB meeting was held in conjunction with a school transportation conference and trade show.

Don Bischoff of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the board his office does not believe "any credible evidence" exists to show that lap belts on school buses would significantly reduce fatalities. He said in some cases the lap belts could be deadly.

"Having said that, we're going to keep an open mind," Bischoff said. "We're going to take another hard look at it and see if we can't make recommendations for the next generation of occupant protection, but right now we don't see any real benefits for lap belts in school buses."

An average of 10 children a year die while being transported by school bus.

Groups such as the National Coalition of School Bus Safety have raised the question why school districts teach children it is OK not to wear seat belts on school buses when they are required in private vehicles.

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