RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — For the first time, federal regulators are supporting a movement to have a seat belt for every child on a school bus.
Right now, seat belts are not required on school buses here in Virginia. Only six states in the U.S. require them.
In the past, regulators argued that seat belts weren’t needed because school buses are incredibly safe and are built to protect passengers. Now, they want to see all students buckled up. The head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s an expensive challenge, but it will “save the lives of children.”
Seat belt manufacturer IMMI performed crash tests for ABC News, showing that seat belts can keep riders safe if a bus rolls over.
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On average, five people in the U.S. die each year in school bus crashes. The government is hoping new rules will help that number go down.
“The children that are belted, they’re safe,” says Larry Grey, IMMI CEO. “The children that are unrestrained, they’re thrown throughout the vehicle.”
There’s still no word when new requirements might be implemented.
8News reporter Ava-joye Burnett is working to learn more about this developing story. Watch her full report tonight on 8News at 5.
