WESTFIELD, Ind. — Seat belt system provider SafeGuard has released its “SafeGuard 4 Kids” advocate kit in support of parents and other individuals who encourage equipping school buses with lap-shoulder seat belts.

SafeGuard Sales Director James Johnson said that many parents are choosing to transport their children to school in personal vehicles rather than utilize local school bus services because they prefer belted transportation.

“What they don’t realize is that this actually increases the risks to their children as they travel to school,” Johnson said. “School buses are the safest form of transportation, so anything we can do to increase ridership improves safety for children.”

When schools equip their buses with seat belts, the buses become an extension of the classroom in training children to build a lifelong habit of buckling up inside a moving vehicle, he added.

The SafeGuard 4 Kids advocate kit includes a nine-minute informational DVD and two leave-behind brochures. Its release follows the October 2007 introduction of the SafeGuard FlexSeat, a standard 39-inch seat equipped with three lap-shoulder belts that can transport three elementary school children or two high school students, resolving capacity issues usually associated with seat belts on school buses.

“Due in part to this new technology, we are beginning to see an increasing number of school districts in states like Virginia, Texas, Indiana and Illinois voluntarily installing lap-shoulder belts on school buses,” Johnson said.

The FlexSeat is available on Thomas Built Buses and IC Bus units.

The advocate kit can be ordered for free at www.safeguard4kids.com or by calling (877) 447-2305.