Seat Belts

Today's school buses have been designed for better crash and rollover protection. They protect kids through "compartmentalization," which means spacing seats close together, as well as using seats with high, energy-absorbing backs to prevent children from being tossed around in a collision. School buses are also highly visible and have safety features like red flashing red lights, cross-view mirrors and stop-sign arms. Drivers stay on carefully planned routes and maintain slow speeds, so seat belts aren't needed. That's the thought, anyway. Unfortunately, though, deadly school bus crashes happen. Such was the case in November 2016 when a crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee killed six elementary school students. After another deadly school bus crash in May 2018 in Morris County, New Jersey, killed two, including a child, and injured 43 others, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened a full investigation into school bus safety.