TESTIMONIES

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Children Deserve Seatbelts on School Buses!!!

The National Coalition for School bus Safety supports Assembly Bill 2030 which requires seat belts on all new school buses. Our organization has been actively monitoring school bus safety and collecting data for over 15 years.   The arguments against seatbelts on school buses are finally being discredited and attributed to self-serving economically motivated groups. The public is becoming more aware of the truly valid reasons for their installation and use.

Opponents say that seat belts on large school buses are harmful to small children. If this is true then why is there a child restraint law in every state. Seat belts on school buses have been endorsed by the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American College of Preventative Medicine, Physicians for Automotive Safety, The Center for Auto Safety, and the Fire Marshalls Association.

Opponents claim that seatbelts on school buses are not cost effective and that School buses have an excellent safety record. They ignore the fact that seatbelts would cost most districts about $1.60 a child per year or less than a penny a day for this added protection. The National Safety Council reports that about 13,000 pupil-passengers were injured on school buses last year. The preliminary data from New Jersey where seat belts are mandated shows lower morbidity and mortality rates on school bus crashes.

Opponents ignore the fact that by not providing seatbelts, a school district is demonstrating a form of NEGATIVE EDUCATION. All 50 states protect our young motor-vehicle passengers by mandating the use of safety seats or belts in passenger cars. Thus, the children today are already trained to "buckle-up" and are in the habit of riding safely secured. This habit persists enforced by law, until the first day of school where a portion of the Transport Industry says its proper to ride unsecured. This negative training carries over to our teenage drivers who are killed in drastic numbers from automobile crashes because they haven't learned the importance of wearing a seatbelt. What a great OPPORTUNITY we have before us to educated and condition a new generation of children with this life saving belt.

Opponents state that "compartmentalization" (protection between high-back padded seats) provides sufficient protection. They have ignored the effects of rear-end, lateral and rollover collisions. During a crash, children become human missiles as they are thrown from their seats.

Opponents suggest that seatbelts would hinder evacuation and that they are more trouble than they're worth. The children today can utilize this basic safety technology without slowing evacuation. It is easier to assist a conscious passenger than one who has been tossed about in a collision. The Fire Marshals Association endorsement and seatbelts widespread use on airplanes attest to this.

We urge all legislators to take the side of logic and not be swayed by the opponents of this bill. Carefully examine the economic motives of those who oppose assembly bill 2030. We ask that the assembly members listen to the parents, grandparents, and doctors who may not be as vocal as the opposing industry lobby, but whose primary concern is protecting children. A recent survey showed that 94.7% of parents favor mandated seatbelt usage on school buses.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for questions or further information.

Sincerely,
Dr. Alan L. Ross
President, NCSBS

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