Seating and Safety

8VAC20-70-40. Seating The number of pupils who may ride a school bus shall be determined by the total number who can be seated on the seat cushion facing forward, safely seated within the seating compartment, and shall not exceed the manufacturer's capacity Pupils may not be permitted to stand, except under unforeseen temporary emergency conditions and for short distances as identified in policy by the local school board.

Seating and Safety Question: How do we determine the manufactures capacity rating? Answer: The rating is indicated on the manufactures label inside of the school bus.

manufacturer's capacity rating

Seating and Safety Question: Does that mean that if the capacity rating of the bus is 66, than I can safely transport 66 students on the bus? Answer: NO, not necessarily

Seating and Safety This capacity rating is not meant to be a measure of the absolute capacity of the school bus seat for all sizes of passengers. Rather, it is the "rated maximum capacity" as determined by the school bus body manufacturer and specified on the vehicle.

This rated capacity, in a school bus, is determined by dividing the width of the seat by the number "13," which represents the 12.8-inch hip breadth of a 5th percentile adult female test dummy as specified in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." [A 5th percentile adult female dummy is approximately 4-feet 11-inches tall and weighs 102 pounds.] National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services Position Paper School Bus Seat Capacity, 1999

13 inches per hip breadth = 3 39 inch seat divided by / 13 inches per hip breadth = 3 13 inches 13 inches 13 inches 39 inches

Theoretically speaking, if you had 66 dummies, and all @ 5th percentile adult female size and weight, on a 66 passenger school bus – the in use capacity of the school bus would be 66. Children vary in size and in weight so the in use capacity of the bus will most likely be less than the manufactures maximum rating.

Seating and Safety The "in use" capacity of a school bus varies depending on the size of the pupils transported. The use of a child safety seat for an infant or toddler, or special equipment needed for a child with disabilities, may further impact the "in-use" capacity of a school bus.

Seating and Safety An integral part of providing "safe" transportation in a school bus, or any other type motor vehicle, is that the passengers be properly seated. From a safety perspective, a person who is either standing or improperly seated in a school bus, or any other type of motor vehicle, is not afforded the benefits of the safety protection designed into the vehicle and is in increased jeopardy of injury in the event of a crash or extreme sudden driving maneuver.

There must be sufficient space on the school bus seat for each passenger's body to be completely within the seating compartment (COMPARTMENTALIZATION). In the event of a crash or sudden driving maneuver, proper confinement and seating will provide maximum protection.

Students that are not properly seated within the seating compartment, may not benefit from the passenger crash protection systems built into the school bus under Federal and State regulations.

Seating and Safety If your seating policy or procedure does not allow students to be completely seated with in the confines of the seating compartment – the student may not be afforded the same safety as others on the bus. Remember: Students will rely on the decision making processes of the adult.

Seating and Safety

Seating and Safety The passengers are afforded safety through the seating design; padding aft and forward of the passengers.

Seating and Safety Adding any object in front of the passenger compromises the principal of compartmentalization.

Seating and Safety Proper education of all parties involved in the pupil transportation process is essential to increasing awareness and maintaining safety. The End

Resources http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/buses/busseatbelt/index.html http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/buses/pub/numseat.hmp.html http://www3.ntsb.gov/surface/highway/childseat.htm http://www.nasdpts.org/Documents/Paper-SeatingCapacity.pdf