Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site burl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!prls!amdimage!amdcad!amd!pesnta!greipa!decwrl!sun!idi!burl!wts From: wts@burl.UUCP (wts) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: Seatbelt paradox Message-ID: <912@burl.UUCP> Date: Wed, 30-Oct-85 15:10:47 EST Article-I.D.: burl.912 Posted: Wed Oct 30 15:10:47 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 15:00:39 EST References: <303@ukecc.UUCP> <1119@hou2h.UUCP> Reply-To: wts@burl.UUCP (wts) Organization: AT&T Technologies, Burlington NC Lines: 41 In article <1119@hou2h.UUCP> mr@hou2h.UUCP (M.RINDSBERG) writes: >> >> Ever wonder why there are no seatbelts in school busses? If a >> school bug gets in a wreck, there is the potential for alot of injuries. > >They used to. Some do still have them today. In fact in some states >with a seatbelt law It wouldnt make sense not to have seatbelts. According to a representative of Thomas Built Buses, Inc. of High Point, NC, that was interviewed on a local news program, seat belts on school buses may cause more injuries than they prevent. According to the results of their studies, a child's body will bend at the waist and go face first into the seat in front when restrained at the waist by a simple lap belt. When unrestrained, the child's body will tend to come up out of the seat, and impact the seat in front with his chest/abdomen, thereby spreading the impact force over a larger, more resilient area. According to Thomas, a more cost effective means of insuring passenger safety would be a seatback that had extra padding so when hit, the result would be a soft landing. Thomas is currently working on this now, according to the news report. This all seems to make sense. If your reference point is an automobile, the "second" impact for a front seat passenger, unbelted, is typically the windshield, headfirst. With a lapbelt, second impact is the dashboard, teethfirst(8-}). Shoulder harnesses were then required for front seat occupants. Rear seat occupants went face first into the padded rear of the front seat when belted. With a schoolbus, there is less likelihood of serious "second" impact when unbelted. Also, in North Carolina, school buses are governed to 35 MPH max., and Activity buses are governed to 45 MPH max. Slower speeds are the best prevention of serious bodily injury. William T. Sykes AT&T Technologies, Inc Burlington, NC burl!wts