Safety Vests in the Spotlight

The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) has issued an information paper to provide guidance on the use of safety vests in school buses for children who weigh 50 pounds or less. The paper was issued in response to concerns about whether commonly used safety vests (also known as restraining harnesses or positioning vests or harnesses) comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 213. Section 5.3.1 of FMVSS 213 prohibits the use of add-on child restraint systems that attach to the seat back solely by means of the seat back or seat cushion. Correspondingly, the NASDPTS paper suggests that child safety restraint systems that meet FMVSS 213 should be the “first choice” of school bus operators. If a safety harness is used, it should be certified by the manufacturer as meeting all FMVSS 213 requirements, according to the paper. To read the full report, visit NASDPTS’ Website at www.nasdpts.org and click on “Focus Topics.”