The fuel tank is enclosed with a steel cage, and the seats are covered in flame-resistant kevlar. Side windows, roof hatches, emergency doors, and pop-out windows offer numerous emergency exits. Bus seats have high backs and are placed close together at an angle. If there's a sudden stop or impact, students slide forward, and their chests and abdomens hit the seat in front of them. If the students on the bus are wearing lap belts, their foreheads hit the seat in front of them, transferring the force to their spinal columns, and causing more serious injuries.
Most drivers think seat belts on buses pose a significant safety hazard.
First, a seat belt can be a deadly weapon. The buckle can be used to strike another person. The belt itself can be used to choke someone. Second, in the event of an accident, seat belts can trap students on board. Fires can engulf buses in flames and smoke in roughly three minutes.