State directors to develop training guidelines for seat belts
In response to NTSB recommendations, NASDPTS says it will develop guidelines to assist schools in training bus drivers, students and parents on “the importance and proper use” of various types of school bus seat belts. The state directors association says it will also develop educational materials on “lap and shoulder belts providing the highest level of protection for school bus passengers” — another NTSB recommendation.
The state pupil transportation directors association said that it will act on recommendations that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made based on the agency’s investigation of the 2012 school bus accident in Chesterfield, N.J.
The NTSB issued two recommendations related to school bus seat belts to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) and other industry associations.
In response to Safety Recommendation H-13-35, NASDPTS said in its formal response letter that it will appoint a committee to develop guidelines to assist schools in training bus drivers, students and parents on “the importance and proper use of school bus seat belts” (as the NTSB put it), including manual lap belts, adjustable lap and shoulder belts, and flexible seating systems.
NASDPTS will then submit those guidelines to the 2015 National Congress on School Transportation and recommend their inclusion in the 2015 edition of National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures, which the NTSB advised.
In Safety Recommendation H-13-36, the NTSB asked the industry associations to “provide your members with educational materials on lap and shoulder belts providing the highest level of protection for school bus passengers, and advise states or school districts to consider this added safety benefit when purchasing seat belt-equipped school buses.”
In response, NASDPTS said that it will develop such materials and will advise states and school districts as NTSB requested. Also, the association said that it will request information from manufacturers and suppliers on the benefits and proper use of their lap-shoulder belt systems. NASDPTS will then provide that information to members, states and schools.
NASDPTS recently strengthened its position in support of lap-shoulder belts for school buses.
In a separate letter, the School Bus Manufacturers Technical Council responded to an NTSB recommendation (H-13-37) regarding seat pan attachments to seat frames. To view that letter, click here.
More Management
5 Questions: How CharterUP Brought a Marketplace to Student Transportation
What does it take to bring a transportation marketplace into K-12? Hear firsthand what CharterUP has learned about the unique needs of schools and bus operators.
Read More →
EverDriven Expands TripCentral Transportation Management Platform to All Partner Districts
The platform provides school districts with real-time trip tracking, student transportation scheduling tools, and pickup and drop-off management capabilities.
Read More →
6 School Transportation Trends to Watch: 2026 District Survey Results
School bus buying is up, fuel choices are shifting, and driver shortages persist. This and more in the latest K-12 public school survey, plus the largest fleets in the U.S.
Read More →
The 100 Largest School Bus Fleets in America: 2026 Rankings
Which public K-12 school districts are the largest in the nation in terms of bus fleet size? Here are the new standings of the top 100 district fleets.
Read More →
EverDriven Launches Route Consolidation Calculator to Estimate Diesel Savings
As diesel prices hit record highs, the largest alternative transportation provider says a 10% route consolidation could save a 120-route district more than $78,000 a year in fuel alone.
Read More →
Zum Secures Continued Financing Support for School Bus Expansion
Generate Private Credit has financed approximately $75 million in school bus deployments across three states, supporting more than 500 buses as Zum expands across the county.
Read More →
Beyond Discipline: A Different Approach to Student Behavior on the Bus
After implementing a dean of students program in Oregon, North Clackamas is seeing positive improvements. Here’s how it worked. The Route is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
A Dean of Transportation's Different Approach to Student Behavior on the School Bus
After implementing a dean of students program in Oregon, North Clackamas is seeing positive improvements on the bus. Here’s how it worked.
Read More →
Inside NAPT ACTS 2026: Highlights from Louisville
From federal updates and student behavior strategies to new school bus technology and industry awards, see highlights from NAPT ACTS 2026 in Louisville.
Read More →
Meet the 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Winner: Annette Brown
We caught up with Wa-Nee Community Schools' Annette Brown on site at SBFX, where she was named the 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Award winner. Hear about her reaction, what she loves most about being a school bus driver, and more!
Read More →