School Buses

NHTSA is committed to reducing school bus-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities through both behavioral programs and vehicle regulations. We work to educate school bus drivers, students, and other motorists about safe behavior that reduces the risk of being involved in a school bus-related crash.

School Buses and Seat Belts

Proper Use of Child Safety Restraint Systems in School Buses - Designed to assist in correctly securing pre-school age children in child safety restraint systems and properly securing the system to a school bus seat.
The re-use of child restraint systems in school buses after crashes - NHTSA recommends that child restraint systems be replaced following a crash in order to ensure a continued high level of crash protection for child passengers.
School Bus Seat Belts and Carryover Effects in Elementary School Children - Explores the proposition that the lack of seat belts on school buses increases the likelihood that elementary school children will not use seat belts in personal vehicles.
Seat Belts on School Buses - NHTSA’s answers to often-asked questions about seat belts on large (over 10,000 lb GVWR) school buses.

Useful Information

Selecting School Bus Stop Locations: A Guide for School Transportation Professionals - Steps for the designation of school bus stops and strategies to support safe pedestrian behavior by students between their homes and their bus stops.
School Transportation-Related Crashes - Since 1998, 149 school-age pedestrians (younger than 19) have died in school transportation-related crashes. Over two-thirds (69%) were killed by school buses, 7 percent by vehicles functioning as school buses, and 24 percent by other vehicles involved in the crashes.
Use Of Nonconforming Vehicles For School Transportation - Federal regulations do not prohibit the use of vans by schools, but require any van (with a capacity of more than 10) sold or leased for use as a school bus to meet the safety standards applicable to school buses.

Additional Resources