DEBATE * USA - Bus belt
From Michael J. Martin Executive Director National Association for Pupil Transportation
Albany, NY,USA -AP/CBS News -Dec 7, 2006: -- Dear Ms. Couric: ... I therefore encourage you to step back from the emotion of this issue and consider why an industry that is predicated on and devoted to making sure that all children – including their own children, step-children and grandchildren - get to and from school safely would be opposed to the popular – some would say logical – thinking that kids in school buses would be safer if they were wearing seat belts? The answer is not because it would cost too much... It’s because there is no clear and convincing evidence that everyone would be safer wearing a safety belt while riding a school bus. In fact, there is significant evidence - not from the industry but from the leading national transportation safety experts - that while some kids might be safer wearing seat belts in a school bus, some kids might be in greater danger. Safety experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have examined the question of seat belts in school buses and concluded that lap belts have virtually no benefits (and children might actually be harmed by them)... School buses since 1977 have been required to have closely spaced, high-back seats with thick foam padding designed to provide protection to children automatically. Your family vehicle is not designed this way and does not have this kind of protection. That’s why it has seat belts and air bags... In my view, it's a shame that you chose to paint the school bus industry with a stereotypical brush, especially since the industry not only doesn’t oppose vehicle enhancements that will improve safety for all children, it typically leads the charge for them... Your viewers would have been much better served had you encouraged everyone to do something that truly improves the safety of children and not what may be the most expedient emotionally... Sincerely...
posted by Unknown @ 1:53 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home