ASTSBC - School Bus Safety

The Association of School Transportation Services of British Columbia

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School Buses
School buses are a popular means of transporting students to and from school, far exceeding public transit for daily travel to and from school. British Columbia's school bus transportation routes are connected by thousands of kilometers of public roadways, making multiple stops and often long runs on highways and side roads - so your child's safety is of the upmost importance. There are several governing and regulatory bodies, including Transport Canada and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), who set out to make school bus transportation as safe as possible.

School buses must go through rigorous testing to pass safety legislation, long before they ever are deemed 'road worthy' Key safety features are considered since there is a wide range of occupants - both young and old and at various stages of size and physical development.

The Association in partnership with the Provincial government, the school bus operating industry, school boards and parents' associations have important roles in the development of those standards. Most operate under contract to school boards, which therefore have a significant influence on school bus specifications.

Safety Around School Buses
There are many other devices addressing the safe environment around school buses, some of them widely installed because of school board and operator interest in safety solutions. With the small number of casualties it is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of individual solutions. Two major types of device can be identified - physical barriers and driver warning systems.

No existing or possible device is certain, by itself, to completely eliminate passenger injuries. The simpler ones may be useful in helping bus operators to take the best precautions. Ultimately the persons on the spot must take responsibility and any devices should serve to help in that exercise.

Your Child's Onboard Protection
Research and records show that in the decade between 1985 and 1996, there were fewer than 10 fatalities involving school bus passengers. This small number is an indicator that school buses are a very safe mode of transportation for children and their drivers compared to other modes of transport.

Years of research and development, both past and ongoing, is being done to ensure that your child is safe onboard your school buses. The seat spacing and the seat backing are proportioned to limit the occupants from being thrown around following an impact. Barriers are provided in the first row of seating to further ensure no occupant is thrown and are designed to minimize impact and bodily harm. Unlike motor coaches, for passenger protection, school buses are not permitted to have overhead storage bins/racks. This is an extra measure to protect against possible head impacts. Other impact areas are designed and constructed to have fewer sharp edges and blunt areas, ensuring fewer injuries.

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