Guideline for the Safe Transportation of Pre-school Age 

Children in School Buses

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

February 1999

Introduction

School age children transported in school buses are safer than children transported in motor 

vehicles of any other type. Large school buses provide protection because of their size and 

weight. Further, they must meet minimum Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSSs) 

mandating compartmentalized seating, improved emergency exits, stronger roof structures and 

fuel systems, and better bus body joint strength.

As more pre-school age children are transported to school programs, often in school buses, the 

public is increasingly asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 

about how to safely transport them. To help answer these questions, NHTSA conducted crash 

testing of pre-school age size dummies in school bus seats. The test results showed that preschool age children in school buses are safest when transported in child safety restraint systems 

(CSRSs) that meets FMVSS 213, Child Restraint Systems, and are correctly attached to the 

seats.

Based on its research, NHTSA recommends pre-school age children transported in school buses 

always be transported in properly secured CSRSs. In partial response to questions from school 

(and child care) transportation offices, this Guideline seeks to assist school and other 

transportation managers in developing and implementing policies and procedures for the 

transportation of pre-school age children in school buses.

Note: The proper installation of CSRSs necessitates that a school bus seat have safety belts or 

other means of securing the CSRS to the seat. NHTSA recommends that lap belts or anchorages 

designed to meet FMVSS 225, Tether Anchorages and Child Restraint Anchorage Systems, be 

voluntarily installed to secure CSRSs in large school buses.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF PRE-SCHOOL AGE 

CHILDREN IN SCHOOL BUSES

When pre-school age children are transported in a school bus, NHTSA recommends these 

guidelines be followed:

(1) Each child should be transported in a Child Safety Restraint System (suitable for the 

child's weight and age) that meets applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 

(FMVSSs).

(2) Each child should be properly secured in the Child Safety Restraint System.
(3) The Child Safety Restraint System should be properly secured to the school bus seat, 

using anchorages that meet FMVSSs.

Child Safety Restraint System Defined

A Child Safety Restraint System is any device (except a passenger system lap seat belt or 

lap/shoulder seat belt), designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position a child 

who weighs less than 50 pounds.

Child Safety Restraint Systems Guideline

1. Child Safety Restraint System Specifications

The provider of the CSRS should ensure:

Each pre-school age child to be transported has a CSRS appropriate for the child’s

weight, height, and age.

Each CSRS meets all applicable FMVSSs (look for the manufacturer’s 

certification on the label attached to the system).

Each CSRS has been registered with the CSRS's manufacturer to facilitate any 

recalls the manufacturer might conduct.

If the CSRS is the subject of a recall, any necessary repairs or modifications have 

been made to the manufacturer's specifications.

Each CSRS is maintained as recommended by its manufacturer, including 

disposal of any CSRS that has been involved in a crash.

2. Proper Securement

The transportation provider should ensure:

The CSRS is used and secured correctly in the school bus.

Each child is secured in CSRSs according to manufacturer’s instructions.

All CSRS attachment hardware and anchorage systems meet FMVSS 210, Seat 

Belt Assembly Anchorages or FMVSS 225, Tether Anchorages and Child 

Restraint Anchorage Systems.

School bus seats designated for CSRSs meet FMVSS 225, or include lap belts that 

meet FMVSS 209, Seat Belt Assemblies, and anchors that meet FMVSS 210 

(designed to secure adult passengers or CSRS).
Personnel responsible for securing CSRSs onto school bus seats and children into 

CSRSs are properly trained and all personnel involved with CSRSs are provided 

up-to-date information and training.

When transported in the school bus, pre-school age children are supervised 

according to their developmental and functioning level.

3. School Bus Seats Designated for Child Safety Restraint Systems

The transportation provider should ensure:

School-bus seats designated for CSRSs are located starting at the front of the 

vehicle to provide drivers with quick access to and a clear view of the CSRS 

occupants.

CSRS anchorages on school bus seats should meet all applicable FMVSSs.

When ordering new school buses, the maximum spacing specified under FMVSS 

No. 222, School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection, (within 24 inches 

from the seating reference point) is recommended for seats designated for CSRSs 

to provide adequate space for the CSRSs.

The combined width of CSRS and/or other passengers on a single seat does not 

exceed the width of the seat.

If other students share seats with the CSRSs, the CSRSs are placed in window 

seating position.

4. Retrofitting School Buses

The transportation provider should ensure:

Existing school bus seats should only be retrofitted with lap belts or child restraint 

anchorages as instructed by the school bus manufacturer.

When a school bus is retrofitted with a seat to allow for proper securement of a 

CSRS, instructions obtained from the school bus or seat manufacturer on how to 

install the seat and restraint systems should be followed.

When a school bus is retrofitted, the bus owner should ensure that seat spacing is 

sufficient for the CSRS to be used.

5. Evacuation

The transportation provider should ensure:
The establishment of a written plan on evacuating pre-school age children and other the 

school system’s school-aged children.

All personnel involved in transporting children are trained in evacuation and 

emergency procedures, including those in the written school bus evacuation plan.

All school buses carrying children in CSRSs carry safety belt cutters that are 

accessible only to the driver and any monitors.

CSRSs are not placed in school bus seats adjacent to emergency exits.

Local emergency response teams are provided copies of the written school bus 

evacuation plan, including evacuation of pre-school age children. Emergency 

response personnel should be invited to participate in evacuation drills.

passengers in CSRSs in the event of an emergency. This written plan should be 

provided to drivers, monitors, and emergency response personnel. The plan 

should explicitly state how children (both in and out of the CSRS) should be 

evacuated from the school bus.

Evacuation drills are practiced on a scheduled basis, at least as often as that 

required for 

6. Other Recommendations

The school transportation provider should establish a policy on whether they or the 

child’s guardian must supply a CSRS to be used on a school bus.school bus purchases 

should be based on the needs of a projected student population, taking into consideration 

projected ages, sizes, and other characteristics of the students, including any special 

needs, and whether pre-school age children or medically fragile students will be 

transported.

Specified procedures should be established for loading and unloading children in CSRSs.

Procedures should be established for the periodic maintenance, cleaning, and inspection 

for damage of CSRSs. Procedures should be established to train personnel involved in 

direct service delivery of infants, toddlers, and pre-school children on the physical dayto-day handling of these young children and means to handle potential exposure to 

contagious and communicable diseases.

When school bus procedures are established, it should be noted that some children in 

CSRSs may have special needs, including medical fragility, that must be addressed on a 

child-by-child basis.