IMMI Debuts New SafeGuard FlexPlus School Bus Seat

WESTFIELD, Ind. — IMMI recently debuted its new SafeGuard FlexPlus school bus seat with a high-impact crash test.

The demonstration, which Good Morning America aired on Sunday, involved a semi-truck hitting the side of a school bus to compare the results for belted and unbelted crash dummies on the bus.

In the crash test, belted dummies remained in their seats, while unbelted dummies did not, according to IMMI. One of the unbelted dummies was ejected from the bus through a window, video footage from the test shows.

The demonstration was part of an event called the SafeGuard Seat Belt Safety Summit, which included pupil transportation officials who have real-world experience using lap-shoulder belts on their districts’ school buses.

“Districts have the authority to make policies, and (each state’s) department of education has the authority to make policies, and we are going to mandate that drivers encourage children to wear their seat belts. Especially after this crash test today,” said Diana Hollander, Nevada state director and president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services. Nevada recently passed a bill that requires lap-shoulder belts on new school buses purchased on or after July 1, 2019.

The IMMI event also showcased the supplier’s new SafeGuard FlexPlus school bus seat with SmartFrame Plus technology, which provides protection for both belted and unbelted passengers, according to IMMI. The seat includes a feature called the TattleTale Indicator, which IMMI said helps in determining whether to replace the seat after a crash.

The Good Morning America report that features the IMMI crash test can be viewed here. A recording of the SafeGuard Seat Belt Safety Summit can be viewed below.