In addition to explaining school bus occupant protection, the video examines three recent crashes that the National Transportation Safety Board has investigated.
NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart unveiled his agency’s new school bus safety video at the industry conferences in Kansas City on Monday.
2 min to read
NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart unveiled his agency’s new school bus safety video at the industry conferences in Kansas City on Monday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a video that highlights school buses as the safest form of transportation for children traveling to and from school.
The agency notes that children are safer in school buses because the vehicles are designed with compartmentalization, a passive form of occupant protection. The design of the seats — featuring high seat backs, closely spaced, with energy-absorbing properties — creates a compartment that protects children.
Ad Loading...
“NTSB has found that compartmentalization works well to protect children in frontal and rear impact crashes, but, in some side-impact or high-speed rollover crashes, compartmentalization is not enough to prevent injuries,” NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart said. “This is because the seat back does not prevent motion from side-to-side or up-down. In those very rare instances, for some children, a seat belt could have reduced injuries and even saved lives.”
Hart unveiled the new NTSB video at the school bus industry conferences in Kansas City on Monday. In addition to explaining school bus occupant protection, the seven-minute video examines three recent crashes — in Chesterfield, New Jersey; Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Anaheim, California — that have provided the agency with insight about school buses, compartmentalization, and seat belts.
Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.
The federal agency's report asks NHTSA to require all new school buses to be equipped with vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems and passenger lap-shoulder belts.
Student transportation teams are being asked to do more with less, facing driver shortages, rising costs, and increasing safety expectations. This report uncovers how fleets are adapting, where technology is making the biggest impact, and why student ridership tracking is emerging as a top priority. Download the report to explore the key trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for your operation.
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County. A preliminary report adds new information to the story.
From driver shortage solutions in Tennessee and rural connectivity debates in Utah to new safety laws in Wisconsin and ongoing electric bus mandate discussions in New York and Connecticut, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are under fire again after repeated school bus passing violations, raising questions about safety, remote operators, and regulation.
Distracted driving continues to pose serious risks in school zones, with new data and driver insights highlighting ongoing concerns and potential solutions to improve student and roadway safety.
A former airline pilot has stepped into a new role at the independent federal agency, but where does he stand on issues like seat belts on school buses? Here’s what he’s said.
Two recent close calls at railroad crossings, a train clipping a bus and a rear-end crash, highlight why vigilance and training still matter. Here’s what happened and what to tell your own drivers.
The federal agency's proposed rulemaking would eliminate the requirement for school buses to come to a complete stop at railroad crossings if the warning device is not activated. The goal: to improve traffic flow and save costs. With new data released, public comment is open through April 27, 2026.
