New Jersey District to Require Lap-Shoulder Belts After Fatal Crash
The president of the Paramus Public Schools Board of Education says that every new bus the district buys will have three-point belts. The board also plans to get estimates on retrofitting its existing fleet with the belts.
PARAMUS, N.J. — A school district here that had a school bus involved in a fatal crash in May is now planning to require lap-shoulder belts instead of lap-only belts on its school buses.
The Paramus Public Schools’ Board of Education voted on Monday to add three-point belts to an order of four buses it plans to purchase, at an additional cost of $5,300 a bus, according to NorthJersey.com. The board also plans to gather estimates to retrofit its bus fleet with lap-shoulder belts. The board president said at the meeting that every new bus that the district buys will have three-point belts, according to the news source.
The New Jersey School Boards Association told NorthJersey.com that the school district is likely the first to require the belts on its buses, going beyond state regulations. (New Jersey law requires lap-only belts, and the bus in the deadly crash on May 17 was reportedly equipped with lap-only belts.)
A student and a teacher were killed in the crash, and all 45 passengers aboard were injured, some seriously. The school bus driver who was involved in the crash, Hudy Muldrow Sr., has been charged with two counts of reckless vehicular homicide/death by auto.
The board of education’s vote comes as the state Assembly reviews Assembly Bill No. 4110, which would require three-point seat belts on all school buses. The bill passed the Assembly’s Transportation Committee on Monday. Assemblywoman Lisa Swain told the news source that in the wake of the crash “it is clear that our school bus safety standards must change.”
Also following the crash was a recommendation in May from the National Transportation Safety Board for states to mandate lap-shoulder belts, and for states such as New Jersey to upgrade their requirement for lap-only belts to lap-shoulder belts. That recommendation has spurred Congress to propose legislation that would require seat belts on school buses nationwide. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) announce a bipartisan bill that calls for a new federal rulemaking on school bus seat belts.
More Safety

From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible
Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.
Read More →
HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses
Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council
More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.
Read More →
What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation
The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.
Read More →
School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs
Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.
Read More →
Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.
A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.
Read More →
National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe
School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.
Read More →
2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash
A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.
Read More →
Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts
With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.
Read More →
School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →

