Grandmother presses for seat belts on school buses

Q Kids don’t have a choice about getting on a school bus, so it’s up to adults to ensure that the bus is safe, with three-point seat belts and a good driver. The horrific crash in Chattanooga — six children died — was just the latest in a rash of accidents, and more will be coming.

My wish is that you use your column to educate readers so that they may bring pressure to bear on the powers-that-be to provide safe transportation for all children.

Annie Bryant San Jose

A Three years ago, a frustrated Annie went over my head and fired off an email to Mrs. Roadshow. Here is what she wrote to Jan:

Q Dear Mrs. Richards: If you have any influence with Gary, you might consider bopping him over the head with a baton to get him in on a worthwhile endeavor. Several weeks ago I emailed your husband about a topic that I feel is very important: the safety of schoolchildren.

Perhaps you are no more aware than I was that school buses often don’t have seat belts, thereby making them rolling death traps. Now that we both know, I’m asking you, as a mother and future grandmother, for your help. I’m willing to do as much work as it takes, but I don’t know the ins and outs of finding out how widespread the problem is and whom to contact to right this wrong.

If you could take up the baton and work with me in an effort to get these buses retrofitted with seat belts, I’d be truly grateful.

I was one of the chaperones going to a play with my granddaughter’s second-grade class. When I boarded the bus I couldn’t believe that there were no seat belts.

An airplane doesn’t take off until everyone is belted in. I am subject to a fine if everyone in my car is not belted in. And yet our kids riding old school buses are at risk of being flying projectiles in a large metal box.

A Here are items Annie thinks would be of interest:

Q What are the laws governing school bus safety, both federal and in California? Annie Bryant

A California is one of six states that requires seat belts on buses purchased after 2005. Some federal officials are making noise about supporting legislation for all 50 states, but any effort is years away.

School buses are designed to protect students with padded seats, and the fatality rate is very low.

Q How many school buses in California lack seat belts? Annie Bryant

A Of the state’s nearly 26,000 school buses, only 1,900 or 7.3 percent have seat belts. Most school buses are on the road for more than 20 years.

Q How much does it cost to retrofit older buses with seat belts? I can’t think of anything that should take higher precedence than child safety, but with budget fights, apparently not everyone feels this way. This is where parents need to voice their concerns. Annie Bryant

A Anywhere from $2,000 for lap-only belts to $10,000 or more for lap and shoulder belts as required in California.