ITASCA, Ill., Nov. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council applauds Administrator Mark Rosekind and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for speaking clearly and directly on the issue of school bus safety.
School buses are the safest way to transport children because of buses' design, large size, conspicuity, professional drivers and the passive protection afforded by the 1970s requirement of closely spaced, tall, padded seat backs – known as compartmentalization. But we must always ask, 'What more can we do?' Three-point seat belts are required for school bus drivers and are now required in all of our personal vehicles. As states have changed their laws, it is important for all organizations, including the federal government, to update safety standards. The Council acknowledges that more school children are killed outside of the bus, during loading and unloading operations than on the bus, and that both passive and active restraint systems play a role in saving lives and preventing injuries on our roadways. That is why we advocate for defensive driving education for all drivers, crash avoidance and mitigation technologies, and improved occupant protection across all modes of transportation. Our mission at the National Safety Council is to make our world safer, even when we are talking about the safest mode of transportation for transporting our school-age children.
The National Safety Council looks forward to working with our members, school transportation officials, regulators and bus manufacturers to make our world safer.
About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council, nsc.org, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and Safe Communities.
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SOURCE National Safety Council
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