Opinion Talk

By Van

January 30, 2006 09:56 AM | Link to this

I am sure, that if we made it mandatory for the students to be belted, some lawyer from the ACLU would stick up for the unbelted.

We can either force the students to wear a seat belt or ask them nicely to wear a seat belt. Either way, the answer will be “No”.

Perhaps the answer is something they are more familiar with - the restraint system used on most Six Flag rides - a bar or over the shoulder type restraint - with a panic release.

Whichever method used, the students have no respect for authority and will not use the restraint installed.

By Beverly Wittler

January 30, 2006 10:02 AM | Link to this

YES! School buses need seat belts; it has always amazed me that as picky as we are about having our pre-k kids in safety seats, we let kindgergarten and on up ride loose. My dad drove a wrecker, back in the 50’s and he was SO happy when seat belts became the norm; his wrecks were a lot less messier, and he didn’t see near the carnage.

By Linda

January 30, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this

Definately, YES The $1,500 to $2,000 seems like such a “small” amount to pay for the safety of our children. Why didn’t they think of it 20 years ago?

There’s a STATE law on seat belts that we must make sure our children are belted in or else we’ll get a ticket or worse yet charged with neglect. We “drill” in our children’s heads to buckle up. They are taught at school to always buckle up. But as soon as they get on a school bus (county but still government), there is NO seat belt. The same children who are being told to BUCKLE UP can’t buckle up!

I feel seat belts would prevent serious injuries/death in a bad accident. I don’t care how safe they say the buses are. It would also enforce to our children to ALWAYS BUCKLE UP!

Also, seat belts would keep the children in their seats so they couldn’t get up and start trouble. There should be punishment for breaking the rule … like no bus for 2 days. Parents would get the message too! Sounds like a school bus driver’s dream???

Maybe, if the buses had seat belts, more parents would let their children ride them knowing they are safe. Could that be part of the reason so many parents insist on driving their children to school?

Now I know who I can thank for my dad demanding I put seat belts in my ‘60 Comet back in ‘65…had airplane seat belts bolted under car. So simple & inexpensive to do and VERY EFFECTIVE! Thank you Ralph!

By Tyler Smith

January 31, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this

I have one question concerning this seat belt issue. If seat belts are put on school buses, how in the world are we to be sure that students are using them. A bus driver has an enormous vehicle to manuver through rush-hour traffic and dozens of kids screaming behind them. How is the driver on top of all that to make sure that the students are all buckled up. If you ask me, it is a useless move; a nice idea, but useless.

By rob

February 1, 2006 09:01 AM | Link to this

Cages would work better.