8/6/07

Buckle Up on the School Bus

Funny how things don't get covered in the local news. At the end of this legislative session, Texas is now one of the states that will required seat belts on school buses. Apparently after Sept 1, 2010 Texas will be buying new buses with 3 point and shoulder harnesses and after 2014 all school buses must have seat belts.

I wonder if they'll be buying enough buses? What happens if the bus gets overcrowded? Will excess children have to find other means of transportation? If not, be forced to stand? How long will it take the buses driver to get the 4 and 5 year-olds buckled into a seat? How long to make sure every one is properly secured? How are they going to make sure they are all proper adjusted. Highschoolers are MUCH bigger than elementary students and vice versa.

I remember riding the bus in high school (previous schools were in walking distance) here in San Antonio--most times it was so crowded high schoolers were stuffed 4 to a seat and had to stand--this went on for the entire school year. No more buses were added--I think parents just started taking their kids to school because they didn't think school buses were sausages.

I am not against seat belts in a school bus. In fact, I have always wondered why school buses didn't have seat belts. As a parent of small children--it's difficult to get the kids fastened (and unfastened, btw)into their seat belts. Seat belts are often (esp. when designed by the state) confusing and hard to use for little children. The buttons themselves are tricky--esp., when used at least 6 times a day 5 days a week.

Given, the fact that I homeschool--doesn't matter...other kids ride the bus--will it be safe, comfortable, and efficient?

Labels: daily rant, homeschooling, politics, Texans

10:23:00 AM -- Email -- Link -- 1 Comments

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1 Comments:

My sister drives a school bus. She should tell of all her stories. LOL

By  tarcher, at 7:51 PM  

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