We don't need seat-belts on school buses.

[Big Blue Machine]

I think putting seat-belts on school-buses is a dumb idea. First of all, the kids would take them off away while the bus is going. The high school kids won't wear them, excpet me of course. You just need the kids to sratight up and fly right. And you don't need a paid bus-monitor, the bus-driver can do that.

[caesar]

I think not putting seat belts in a school bus is irresponsible. If there were an accident they would be thrown all around all over each other. How dare they not have seat belts in a bus and yet expect us to wear them in our own private vehicles. The Kids will wear them or walk . A monitor is a good idea as the driver needs to concentrate on driving.

[playfullfellow]

Caesar has a point here, whats wrong with kids wearing seat belts on a school bus. They have to wear helmets while biking. Seat belts in cars, etc. As for monitors, its sad to say but the time has come for that too. The kids now a days are pretty close to being out of control deviants. There is not control anymore over our kids. There should be a zero tolerance policy for misbehavior on school buses. You break the rules, you walk. Parents also have to start taking responsibility for the actions of their brats. If your brat gets booted from the bus, deal with it, control your kid and let them walk to school for a while. Maybe that would get them under control.

[Tawasakm]

I think putting seat-belts on school-buses is a dumb idea. First of all, the kids would take them off away while the bus is going. The high school kids won't wear them, excpet me of course. You just need the kids to sratight up and fly right. And you don't need a paid bus-monitor, the bus-driver can do that.

What you are saying might be true BBM if the purpose of seatbelts is simply as a restaint to make children behave.

But why do seatbelts exist? They exist because of automotive safety issues. They are designed to reduce the risk of injury/fatality.

Given that that is their purpose I cannot, for the life of me, understand why they are not required by law to be placed in buses and vehicles of all descriptions. Canada is not the only country that fails to make all buses provide seatbelts.

At the risk of repeating myself I just can't understand the rationale behind not intiating this as a universal safety standard. Maybe someone can explain to me why the safety issues magically cease to exist on school buses?

[caesar]

Well, according to transport canada; big blue is right.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/bus/schoolbus/BUSBELTS_e.HTM

However, I think the same rationale goes with our own cars. Seat belts need to be improved to be more adjustable to properly fit everybody before they are really that good. I am short and find the seat belt cuts across my throat. Besides hindering my ability to look around; if I were in an accident; it would probably choke me.

I think the real reason is money and if safety were the real issue; they wouldn't be allowed to cram us on the buses standing. Nor would they be allowed to cram us into skytrain; with nothing to even hold onto; next to a door that says; may open without warning.

[Tawasakm]

Thanks for the link. Very informative. I can see the rationale behind the policy now. I hadn't considered all of those points.

Well I must admit I've never ecountered a problem on public transport buses without belts (which I often have to stand in anyway). Its interesting that long distance coaches seem more prone to including seatbelts (at least here in Australia). Perhaps because of the higher speeds. I'm travelling on one of those coaches around christmas. Might see what I can find out about it.

[caesar]

Well I must admit I've never ecountered a problem on public transport buses without belts

Maybe, you have better drivers than ours. People get thrown around all the time. Since we have made it the law that buses get the right of way; things have gone down hill. The drivers seem to think they can do anything including going through red lights and just honking at anyone waiting to step out on the walk signal. There is too much pressure on the drivers to stay on schedule over driving with due care. People sit in the seats for seniors and handicapped and the majority do not get up for seniors or handicapped and the bus drivers generally do not insist that they do so. On our train system; a man got on with one leg and one hand and no one offered him a seat. I was disgusted.

Money is the issue for the government; their rationale is excuses.

[Tawasakm]

I have to say, caesar, thats Perth's public transportation system does sound different. If a bus has to brake very suddenly its the only time I've seen people indanger of falling.

They absolutely do not run red lights or ignore pedestrian crossings. Some people don't give up the special consideration seats but most do. We do have some special bus only lanes throughout the city to speed things up (there are bus only lanes running along the major freeway feeding into and out of the city centre) and some bus only signals at some traffic intersections (which, obviously, regulate the bus only lanes).

People are expected to give way to buses that are changing lanes (and signal in advance).

How much does public transport cost where you live atm? Here I can travel anywhere in Perth all day long using Transperth buses, trains and ferries for $3.20. Sydney is alot more expensive and not integrated like Perths. How do things stand there right now?

[Big Blue Machine]

Whats the point of seatbelts, if kids are going to take them off when the bus is going? We just need the kids to calm down on the bus, and that makes the bus safer.