Editor’s note: Watch this February 15, 2015, ABC News video, “School Bus Crashes: No Seat Belts?” Take the opinion poll on thecity1.com Local Sports page.
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is teaming with longtime advocate of school bus seat belts, Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), as well as Transportation Committee Chairman Sen. Martin Sandoval, by introducing legislation requiring 3-point seat belts on school buses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) supports 3-point seat belts in school buses.
“My mission is to make Illinois roads the safest ever,” said White. “This new legislation will help us accomplish this goal. With improvements in the technology of seat belts, along with NHTSA’s recommendation, now is the time to pass legislation pushing for a significant change in protecting our children on school buses.”
In late 2015, NHTSA endorsed seat belts on school buses due, in large part, to improved technology with 3-point safety belts. Up until NHTSA’s endorsement, Federal and State safety organizations have largely remained neutral on the issue. They expressed concerns on whether 2-point lap seat belts improved the overall safety of a child riding a school bus.
However, 3-point safety belts better protect children–due to their ability to diffuse the forceful and sudden movement the body sustains, during a crash over the chest, waist, and shoulder areas.
Six states have passed laws requiring seat belts in school buses: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Louisiana, and Texas.