School buses are already very safe.
Other safety investments can provide more safety per dollar of expenditure. It is frequently assumed by the general public that since safety restraints have proven their effectiveness in passenger cars and other small vehicles, their availability and use in large school buses will produce the same fatality and injury mitigating benefits. The installation of safety restraints and the issue of safety restraint uses is a frequent topic of discussion among school transportation professionals and a topic frequently raised by concerned parents of school children. Interestingly, the state of New York requires that lap belts be installed in all newly purchased large school buses, but does not mandate their use. Controversy exists, however, regarding just how effective the provision of safety restraints and mandatory safety restraint use laws would be in reducing fatalities and injuries to occupants of large school buses.