Seat Belts on Buses continued from page 85
inexplicably dropped. A few districts are looking to “hedge their bet� on seat belts by going to a new product on the market. A convertible seat is built as a school bus seat but can be changed to a three point school bus seat or an integrated child restraint seat while still in the bus within a matter of minutes.This allows the bus the versatility of changing seat styles. However, some limitations do exist. For instance, some seats on the market allow you to go from standard seat to specialty seat, but not the other way around. Once you change the seat style, there is no going back to the standard bench seat. Other versions of this seat do allow for the switch back and forth, so be cautious and do your homework if your district decides to go this route. Additionally, the convertible seat is more expensive up front.You are paying for the ability to change the seat even if you decide not to change down the road.You really
86
WINTER 2012 v SouthEast Education Network
need to weigh the cost benefits of upgrading for the possibility of change in the future. So, with all these changes and options out there, what are districts to do today? Just like every other product, innovations and technology have made school buses safer. NHTSA has done extensive testing to make school buses as safe as they are today. Three point lap and shoulder belts have been proven to enhance the safety inside the vehicle. However, unless mandated otherwise, it is a decision that each state and each district must make on their own. It is
a decision that cannot be taken lightly. Our future is riding on it. Steve Frazee and Bob Knapp are part owners of The C. E. White Company in New Washington, Ohio. With nearly 50 years experience between them in the transportation seating industry, they have helped build C. E. White into the largest school bus seat manufacturer in North America. They have both worked closely with The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) over the years in the development and testing of school bus seating standards. For more information, visit www.cewhite.com.