Am I the only parent that won’t let their kids ride the bus because of no seat belts?

My kids have never rode the bus. We drive them to school and then back home. As far as the field trips go they didn’t go on one until they were older 3rd and 4th grades and I was ok with them riding but I totally see your point especially at those ages. It is hard enough to keep a 4 yr old sitting and to have a bus full who is to say that one won’t get hurt? I don’t see why they are making it an issue as you the parent wants to drive them! That is just absurd. As for the other parents they are only acting that way because they are ignorant of what consequences could happen and then when something does happen regret it later…I say stick to your guns and maybe they will start to see that seatbelts are good! A bus can stop fast and a 4 or 5 yr old could easily slip and fall out of the seat and get hurt! We would get endangering the child and jail time if we didn’t protect our children and people are frowning on you for wanting to protect your children! You stick to your guns and you will soon see that many other parents will soon follow in your footsteps. They are your babies and you protect them it is your right!

Your children are safer on the bus, even without seat belts, than in your car. Plus, there are usually aides, and parent volunteers in addition to the teacher to watch the class.

Even if your child gets up out of his/her seat, stands, and wanders a little bit while the bus is moving, the strange sensation of the bus ride is enough that the child wants to sit back down again.

If you have a special concern, then convey that to the school. You should be talking to the school principal, in addition to the teachers. They all want what’s best for your children. Maybe they will agree to let you follow the bus, and drive your children yourself.

My opinion is that you are just nervous and trying to be protective. I would ask the principal if they would like you to be a parent volunteer, and then go on the field trip along with your kids. This would be excellent since you say you are already familiar with the destinations. Have fun. Everything will be alright.

I am the same way as you. I never let my kids go on field trips without me taking them. Its just fine that you feel this way and talk to the principal about this and let them know you will be chaperoning as well so that it can help the teachers with the large amount of kids. I did this and had great times last year with my sons field trips. I know that schools cant tell you you cant take your children in your car while following the school bus. Its a right you have as a parent. If you talk to the PTA about your feelings on this subject you can see the finer points of your argument being meet when it comes time for the trips in the school year. I live in Arizona and I have moved to allot of places and rules on this very from school to school. I would first talk to the PTA and see if your feelings on this can be meet and if not talk to the Principal and if that don’t work then talk to the School Board at the meeting they let parents talk at these meetings and since your one of very few of us that feel buses are not as safe we hope. When I lived in Washington State my son was in 2nd grade and the buss driver was mean to the kids and once a few kids trun in there seats and the driver did a break check now that is when you slam on the brakes and in a buss the kids fly forward. Well a few of the kids got nocked out of there seats and landed on the floor or hit eachother and got banged up really bad. Some of us parents would take turns fallowing the bus with a camra on our dash to catch the buss doing this. Well we found out more then just the slamming of the brakes. One time a little girl was on the floor in the very back of the buss waving at us and we caught the driver slam on the brakes for his brake checks. The video is now used to show ALL BUSS DRIVERS in that county how much parents will go through to make sure the kids are safe. there is other reasons why the video is shown buttrust me if you ever let your kids on a bus and they say the buss driver is doing things he or she should like slaming on the brakes listen to your kids cause I never did tell another parent told me what was going on. I thought my son was just blowing things out a bit more then what was really happening. Good Luck with your talkign to the School advisors on what you feel is right for your kids.

I have never taken the stand you have, but I see your point and share your concern. There is some irony in that, with seat belt laws existing in most states, buses continue to be allowed to not have them. This is also true for motor coach type buses used by tourists, etc.

I believe that most buses built in recent years do have seat belts in them, but even I have been guilty of not using one in a bus when one was available that I could have used. It’s really a cultural thing. We have successfully raised two generations now that are (for the most part) in the habit of using seat belts in a car, but for whatever reason using them in buses has not become part of the same culture.

If you really want to do more with this, think about writing your congressman or state legislature to seek some regulations on this. My guess is that the people who build, own and operate buses won’t ever address this (it’s a cost issue) until they “have to.”

Statistically, school buses and buses in general have a great safety record despite the lack of seat belts. You’re more likely to endanger your child by driving him to school than by letting him ride the bus.

Buses are already compartmentalized to restrain kids. Buses are heavy and by the laws of physics will not be damaged as much as a lighter vehicle in a crash. Buses employ professional drivers and have radio systems as well as first aid packs.

I don’t really oppose the addition of seat belts, I’m just saying that the kid is more likely to be injured in your car than on the school’s bus.

The high padded seats and large size of a school bus make it safer than a passenger vehicle to be in without a seatbelt–there is a much smaller chance of a child being thrown from the bus in an accident.

I can understand you having reservations about this, and you aren’t being completely unreasonable. I think you should change your mind and let them go, but if you don’t feel right doing it, wait until they are a little older first. If this protective mindset extends beyond seat belt safety, you should re-think that, as parents who protect their kids from every danger often rear adults who either don’t know how to protect themselves or are afraid to take any risk.

in ny they have seatbelts on buses.

i can see your point, but then again, really what are the odds of an accident in a bus? statistically speaking they are pretty safe.

Quit being a nut. Let the kids go

You “probably” arent the only one that feels that way………….