Would you let your 3-4 year old ride the school bus?

[Anonymous]

Summer field trip and the kids are taking a bus. The trip is about 45 minutes on 270. I am concerned because there are no seat belts and car seats (obviously) and while we take the bus in the city, that's going 20 MPH for about 2 miles. Not on a fast-moving interstate. Would you let your kid go?

[Anonymous]

Yes, absolutely. I am not concerned about the lack of seat belts on buses, there are actual safety reasons they do not have them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, absolutely. I am not concerned about the lack of seat belts on buses, there are actual safety reasons they do not have them.

Do tell. Of course my child has already heard about the school bus possibility and wants to take it. I'm happy to be persuaded it will be OK.

[Anonymous]

http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Resources/Documents/School_Bus_Safety_Infants_Toddlers_and_Pre-schoolers.pdf

This says that preschoolers should be in car seats, even on a bus.

[Anonymous]

School buses are one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. More than 42,000 people are killed in traffic crashes on U.S. roads every year. Every year, approximately 450,000 public school buses travel about 4.3 billion miles to transport 23.5 million children to and from school and school-related activities. Yet, on average, every year, six school age children (throughout the U.S.) die in school bus crashes as passengers. NHTSA strives to ensure that there are no fatalities in school buses.

Large school buses are heavier and distribute crash forces differently than do passenger cars and light trucks. Because of these differences, the crash forces experienced by occupants of buses are much less than that experienced by occupants of passenger cars, light trucks or vans. NHTSA decided that the best way to provide crash protection to passengers of large school buses is through a concept called “compartmentalization.” This requires that the interior of large buses provide occupant protection such that children are protected without the need to buckle-up. Through compartmentalization, occupant crash protection is provided by a protective envelope consisting of strong, closely-spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs.

School bus crash data show that compartmentalization has been effective at protecting school bus passengers. NHTSA’s 2002 Report to Congress[1] found that the addition of lap belts did not improve occupant protection for the severe frontal impacts that were studied for that report.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Seat+Belts/Seat+Belts+on+School+Buses+--+May+2006

[Anonymous]

NHSTA also says kids should be in car seats:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/buses/guide1999/prekfinal.htm

[Anonymous]

My child rode the bus to school the day after her 3rd birthday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School buses are one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. More than 42,000 people are killed in traffic crashes on U.S. roads every year. Every year, approximately 450,000 public school buses travel about 4.3 billion miles to transport 23.5 million children to and from school and school-related activities. Yet, on average, every year, six school age children (throughout the U.S.) die in school bus crashes as passengers. NHTSA strives to ensure that there are no fatalities in school buses.

Large school buses are heavier and distribute crash forces differently than do passenger cars and light trucks. Because of these differences, the crash forces experienced by occupants of buses are much less than that experienced by occupants of passenger cars, light trucks or vans. NHTSA decided that the best way to provide crash protection to passengers of large school buses is through a concept called “compartmentalization.” This requires that the interior of large buses provide occupant protection such that children are protected without the need to buckle-up. Through compartmentalization, occupant crash protection is provided by a protective envelope consisting of strong, closely-spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs.

School bus crash data show that compartmentalization has been effective at protecting school bus passengers. NHTSA’s 2002 Report to Congress[1] found that the addition of lap belts did not improve occupant protection for the severe frontal impacts that were studied for that report.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Seat+Belts/Seat+Belts+on+School+Buses+--+May+2006

Right, but we are talking about preschoolers. NHTSA recommends car seats for this age group.

[Anonymous]

I would drive her

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School buses are one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. More than 42,000 people are killed in traffic crashes on U.S. roads every year. Every year, approximately 450,000 public school buses travel about 4.3 billion miles to transport 23.5 million children to and from school and school-related activities. Yet, on average, every year, six school age children (throughout the U.S.) die in school bus crashes as passengers. NHTSA strives to ensure that there are no fatalities in school buses.

Large school buses are heavier and distribute crash forces differently than do passenger cars and light trucks. Because of these differences, the crash forces experienced by occupants of buses are much less than that experienced by occupants of passenger cars, light trucks or vans. NHTSA decided that the best way to provide crash protection to passengers of large school buses is through a concept called “compartmentalization.” This requires that the interior of large buses provide occupant protection such that children are protected without the need to buckle-up. Through compartmentalization, occupant crash protection is provided by a protective envelope consisting of strong, closely-spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs.

School bus crash data show that compartmentalization has been effective at protecting school bus passengers. NHTSA’s 2002 Report to Congress[1] found that the addition of lap belts did not improve occupant protection for the severe frontal impacts that were studied for that report.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Seat+Belts/Seat+Belts+on+School+Buses+--+May+2006

Right, but is it possible that the low numbers of fatalities/injuries in school buses have more to do with the fact that most school buses aren't driving on major highways; they are going fairly slow speeds around neighborhood roads and making frequent stops. But in other conditions, major highways, high speeds, et cetera, it would be just as important to have seat belts? I don't know, just throwing that out there.

So many of the school buses in use around where I am seem really old. I have a hard time believing that some state-of-the-art crash science has been applied to their construction. They seem pretty old and rickety.

I don't have an answer to OP's question. Sorry, but I have always kind of wondered about buses and seat belts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School buses are one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. More than 42,000 people are killed in traffic crashes on U.S. roads every year. Every year, approximately 450,000 public school buses travel about 4.3 billion miles to transport 23.5 million children to and from school and school-related activities. Yet, on average, every year, six school age children (throughout the U.S.) die in school bus crashes as passengers. NHTSA strives to ensure that there are no fatalities in school buses.

Large school buses are heavier and distribute crash forces differently than do passenger cars and light trucks. Because of these differences, the crash forces experienced by occupants of buses are much less than that experienced by occupants of passenger cars, light trucks or vans. NHTSA decided that the best way to provide crash protection to passengers of large school buses is through a concept called “compartmentalization.” This requires that the interior of large buses provide occupant protection such that children are protected without the need to buckle-up. Through compartmentalization, occupant crash protection is provided by a protective envelope consisting of strong, closely-spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs.

School bus crash data show that compartmentalization has been effective at protecting school bus passengers. NHTSA’s 2002 Report to Congress[1] found that the addition of lap belts did not improve occupant protection for the severe frontal impacts that were studied for that report.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Seat+Belts/Seat+Belts+on+School+Buses+--+May+2006

Right, but is it possible that the low numbers of fatalities/injuries in school buses have more to do with the fact that most school buses aren't driving on major highways; they are going fairly slow speeds around neighborhood roads and making frequent stops. But in other conditions, major highways, high speeds, et cetera, it would be just as important to have seat belts? I don't know, just throwing that out there.

So many of the school buses in use around where I am seem really old. I have a hard time believing that some state-of-the-art crash science has been applied to their construction. They seem pretty old and rickety.

I don't have an answer to OP's question. Sorry, but I have always kind of wondered about buses and seat belts.

Yes, I would think the same thing PP. If you are looking at national data, I would guess most school buses just drive local routes at pretty low MPH. I would think that the lower the speed, the fewer the fatalities and severe injuries.

[Anonymous]

Will they let you go as a volunteer, then you could be on the bus with her? Is the bus air conditioned? Some school buses around here are not.

[Anonymous]

I felt the same when I found out about field trips on the bus when my kid was 3 years.
You might have an option to not permit your child to go or to take the child there on your own. That would be about 2 hrs of your work time. But, with this preschooler age, they adults usually have them under control pretty well and will repeat the rules each time. I have watched this on several occasion before they board the bus. My child was able to tell me which student tend to not behave well and said that student(s) usually sits with an adult to control his/her behavior.
The risk is the same for when you are in your car with your child.

[Anonymous]

I would not. I'd drive myself.

[Anonymous]

I was struggling with same issue, and read a lot on the topic. School buses are safer than other modes of transport when going to school, but the data does not necessarily apply beyond that. Also, that is for children over 40 pounds. My child is 4, but weighs 35 pounds. According to NHTSA, she should be in a carseat. Daycare is putting kids three across in bus seats, and I am not okay with that. Too risky, especially for 30 miles on I-66.