Where We Stand: Seat Belts on the School Bus

To ensure the safety of children while they are being transported to school, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)  strongly recommends that all children travel in age-appropriate and properly secured child restraint systems in all motor vehicles.

The AAP has had a long-standing position that new school buses should have safety restraints. Parents should work with school districts to encourage that every new bus be equipped with lap/shoulder seat belt restraints that also can accommodate car safety seats, booster seats, and harness systems.

School districts should provide height- and weight-appropriate car safety seats and restraint systems for all children of preschool age; these systems include booster seats with a three-point belt.

When districts have policies on seat belt use, children tend to be better behaved and they are less likely to distract the driver.