Why dont buses have seat belts?

mikeinabox1274

I've been in 2 school bus accidents and my mom's a bus driver. When a bus hits something (or vise versa) that is smaller than it (like a car) then you don't even feel it. The bus is so much larger than the things it's likely to hit that the most concern is for the car that the bus hits. There's probably a higher risk of the bus catching fire or breaking down on railroad tracks that the seat belts would get in the way more than help. Also, what's-his-face already mentioned about the back of the seat in front of you keeping you in one place. And if you're worried about the bus rolling over, that almost never happens. Sure buses are tall, but all the mass is in the lower half giving them an unusually low center of gravity. The short buses have seat belts usually, but that's mainly because they generally have mentally handicapped passengers. And all this crap about buses not going fast enough? that's bull. I mean, they only top out at 65 mph, but on the other hand, that's faster than the 40 that you guys are talking about. Ever heard of express ways? Buses go there.

UCANTCME

If you are talking about city buses, I read that most people dont stay on them long enough to have the time to put them on plus many people rather stand so it would be a waste of time and money but yes to the dangerous part of your question.

And for school buses..................

Compartmentalization, a concept seen frequently on commercial airplanes, involves seating passengers in rows of padded seats with cushioned backs.

The belief is that during frontal or rear impact, the most common types of wrecks involving school buses, passengers would either be pushed back into their seats or thrown forward into the padded backs of the row ahead.

The use of seat belts might require stiffer seats, which would negate the theory of compartmentalization.

It is also feared that some students would receive internal injuries from seat belts through a process called submarining, the tendency for a body to slide downwards during impact.

Seat belts on school buses may also hamper rescue or evacuation efforts, as adults or older students may have to spend precious minutes unbuckling young or disoriented passengers.

Unruly students could also use the heavy buckles as makeshift weapons, creating even more of a safety hazard.

There is also the argument that seat belts would only protect passengers of school buses during unusual events such as roll-overs or flips, not other possible accidents such as fires or submersion.

Considering the expense of retrofitting current school buses or replacing entire fleets with approved seat belt systems, the benefits of seat belt use do not currently outweigh the liabilities.

Jellybean

AS idiots would vandalise them and the repair cost would be too high.
Why don't trains have them as some trains travel at over 80 mph.

penny

That`s what I`d like to know.

trichild4eva

you know i've always thought that myself, surely it should be a standard rule as it is with cars coz you're right i bet they're even more dangerous...

daddyporky@verizon.net

basically saving money and time.. and the seat wont go back with regular belts.. people that are dumb can not release it and miss their stop and get upset with the driver..

MUSH

because it hasn't been brought into law yet...all kinds of excuses about convenience etc

vanilladay

I don't know, but you're right it is an interesting safety question.

angelzdimond

because if there is a fire,bomb or it crashes into something you will be able to escape from the fire exit door quickly because some times seatbelts jam

wolf

some do have depends on the company

goldfishyness

1. the speed (public transportation is not fast enough and the drivers are skilled and they would driver seriously and they should be driving carefully since thats their job)

2. the customers (some people get off the bus in like one stop.. or in 2 stops.. so the process of wearing and un-wearing seatbelt maybe time consuming)

drinky16

thats a good point, although some citsy busses that are used for privat use do have seatbelts.

Most pulic buses dont have seat belts as people arnt on them long to put them on and off ect plus its unfortable to fiddle about with it putting it on and off when ur sat next to someone you dont know. It would alsoslow down the transet time of the bus, if you have to take ur seatbelt of before you get off the busd and a lot of people are getting off it slows the transet time down.

although i do this that seatbelts should be on pubilc busses and people should ahve the choce to use them

Mohamed Z

I've also wondered myself and some of them go between 30-40 mph. and no seat-belts for passengers.

School Buses..have higher backed seats..not saying that's good enough......

Fuzzy Squirrel

Don't really know, BUT if safety is an issue they should make being forced to stand on a bus illegal. (because of the lack of seats)

((LOON))

Good Q and something that baffles me?? I dont think heavy goods have them either??

taz

new buses do especially school buses it is mainly those that are doing tours you find them in just now though

Piers

Public transport does not travel fast enough in order to use a seatbelt.

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