LEGISLATURE

Sample Letter 4

CHILDREN DESERVE SEATBELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES

 PLEASE SUPPORT THE NATIONAL PTA RESOLUTION. THIS WOULD PROMOTE A "PHASE-IN" OF THIS BASIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY.

SINCE THE NATIONAL ADOPTED THIS RESOLUTION IN JULY 1998, 235 COMMUNITIES HAVE EQUIPPED THEIR NEW BUSES WITH SAFETY BELTS!

NEW JERSEY HAS MANDATED SEAT BELTS IN THEIR NEW BUSES SINCE 1993. WILTON, CONNECTICUT AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WITH APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM, TRAINING AND POLICIES, CHILDREN WILL SUCCESSFULLY UTILIZE SEAT BELTS.

THE NHTSA STUDY WILL NOT BE COMPLETED UNTIL JUNE 2001 AND THE NTSB ANALYSIS WILL BE RELEASED IN SEPTEMBER 2000. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR OUR GOVERNMENTAL BUREAUCRACIES. SINCE SEPT. I 998 THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR DEATHS AND 723 CHILDREN SERIOUSLY INJURED.

THE SCHOOL BUS INDUSTRY IS A TWELVE BILLION DOLLAR PER YEAR POWERHOUSE. THEIR PAID L0BBYISTS CONTINUE TO BLOCK NEEDED LEGISLATION.

MANY ADMINISTRATORS AND SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS FEAR THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT SEATBELTS IMPROVE DISCIPLINE ON SCHOOL BUSES. TODAY’S CHILDREN ARE ALREADY PRE-TRAINED WITH UNIVERSAL SEATBELT LAWS FOR OUR PASSENGER VEHICLES.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT SEATBELTS DO NOT HINDER THE EVACUATION OF A SCHOOL BUS. THE CONNECTICUT FIRE MARSHALL ASSOCIATION HAS AFFIRMED THIS WITH THEIR RECENT ENDORSEMENT OF SEATBELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES. ADDITIONALLY THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS HAVE ENDORSED SEATBELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES. PLEASE DO NOT BELIEVE THE MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE YOU THINK SEATBELTS COULD BE HARMFUL. SEATBELTS HAVE A STRONG AND POSITIVE TRACK RECORD IN THE SMALLER BUSES WERE THEY ARE MANDATED AND IN THE LARGER BUSES OF NY AND NJ.

PLEASE VOTE TO SUPPORT SEATBELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES

THANK YOU

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