Missouri School Bus Crash Restarts Seat Belt Debate

October 17, 2010

The state of Missouri has more than 12,000 school buses to transport over a half-million schoolchildren every day. The recent deadly school bus crash in Franklin County prompted parents across the state to ask why every child on every Missouri school bus isn't protected by a seat belt.

The early August crash near Gray Summit killed two, including a 15-year-old high school student on her way with classmates to the nearby Six Flags theme park. CBS News reported that the wreck apparently began when a pick-up truck rear-ended a semi-truck that slowed to enter a road construction zone on Interstate 44.

A Renewed Debate Over Safety

With the horrific tragedy comes a renewed debate in Missouri and nationwide over whether or not to require school buses to be equipped with seat belts.

School districts already squeezed by budget deficits say they simply don't have the money needed to retrofit fleets of buses. School bus manufacturers say that costs will rise and seating capacity will diminish if seat belts are mandated.

Safety advocates counter that we can't afford not to protect the most precious passengers with one of the most effective, affordable safety devices available. (Seat belts have been required on passenger cars since 1968.)

CBS reports that a 2006 study shows an annual average of 17,000 school bus-related injuries.

A Federal Investigation is Underway

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board examined the accident scene and are analyzing the information to determine both the exact cause of the collision and whether seat belts or other safety devices could have prevented deaths and injuries.

The NTSB will also examine the possible benefits of accident-avoidance systems that can warn drivers about impending collisions and automatically engage the vehicle's brakes.

Part of the NTSB's investigation is sure to focus on the role of the construction zone in the Gray Summit school bus crash, as well as reports that distracted driving was a factor as well.

Safety Stalled

In 2005, a Missouri task force encouraged school districts to consider purchasing buses with installed lap- and should-harness seat belts. At the time, the governor was on board with the idea and state lawmakers were considering proposals.

But the momentum for school bus safety stalled. In the aftermath of this catastrophic school bus accident, it's possible that parents, school administrators and politicians will reexamine priorities, even as everyone struggles in a recession.

Protecting Your Family

If your child has been injured on a school bus, contact a Missouri personal injury lawyer for help protecting your family. A personal injury attorney will evaluate the facts of the case, carefully explain your legal options and help you pursue compensation for medical care and the pain and suffering your child has experienced.

Article provided by Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, P.C.
Visit us at www.hfmtruckinglaw.com