Contents

Preface

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. A History of the Seat Belt Issue in the Clarkstown Central School District

2. In Support of Seat Belt Use

Advocates for Seat Belt Usage

Clarkstown PTA Council Survey Results and Summary

Other Surveys

Other Districts' Experiences with Seat Belts

Seat Belts and School Buses = The Saftey Equation

CNN Impact "School Bus Danger"

Summary

3. Misunderstandings About Seat Belts on School Buses

Compartmentalization

Crash Forces

Transport Canada Study: An Evaluation

Possiblity of Entrapment

The Absence of a Federal Manadate

School District Liability

Ensuring Seat Belt Usage by School Bus Passengers

Summary

Conclusion

Recommendations

Endnotes