School Buses:
The SAFEST Choice for Student Transportation

~ Congress has indicated that school transportation should meet the highest level of safety since it involves the Nation’s most precious resource—children. In response to this mandate, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires manufacturers to build school buses to provide a greater level of safety than other passenger vehicles.

~ School buses that meet NHTSA’s school bus safety standards are the safest form of pupil transportation.

~ Federal law prohibits dealers from selling or leasing new buses that are not certified as meeting all applicable Federal school bus safety standards for the purpose of transporting school children to or from school or school—related events.

~ The sale or lease of 10—15 passenger vans to schools could result in children being transported in vehicles that do not provide an appropriate level of safety. A dealer selling or leasing a new bus for school use that does not meet Federal school bus standards would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation.

~ While comparably—sized school buses may be more expensive than other vehicles, NHTSA believes the increased level of safety justifies a higher cost. School buses are required to have flashing lights and stop arms for control of traffic near the bus each time it stops to load and unload passengers. School buses also provide greater rollover protection, increased body joint strength, seating crash protection, cross—view mirrors and greater crash protection to the fuel tank and fuel system.

~ In a 1999 Special Investigative Report, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported the results of its investigations of four crashes in which eight children and one adult were killed when riding in “nonconforming buses,” including 15—passenger vans. It issued a Safety Recommendation urging all States to enact regulations requiring vehicles that carry more than 10 children to and from school and school-related activities to meet the federal school bus structural standards. For a copy of the report, go to www.ntsb.gov/publictn/1999/ s1r9902.pdf.

~ Moreover, heavily loaded 15-passenger vans pose an additional threat. NHTSA issued a consumer advisory warning in April 2001 to users of 15—passenger vans because of an increased rollover risk. The results of analysis by NHTSA revealed that vans carrying 10 or more occupants have a rollover rate in single vehicle crashes that is nearly three times the rate of those that were lightly loaded.

~ NHTSA found that heavily loading a 15-passenger van causes the center of gravity to shift rearward and upward increasing the likelihood of rollover. The shift in the center of gravity also increases the potential loss of control in panic maneuvers. Because of these risks, it is very important that these vans be operated by experienced drivers and essential that everyone buckle up every time.

For more information on school transportation safety and the consumer advisory on 15-passenger vans, go to NHTSks website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.