Should SC have seat belts for school buses?
- Sep 12, 2019
- Arts & Culture, Health & Science, Local News, Politics, Technology
- Team Seth Rose
After a school bus crashed in Forest Acres and five students were sent to the hospital, state Rep. Seth Rose (D-Columbia) says it's time to install seat belts in South Carolina school buses.
"When it comes to the safety of children, no cost should be spared," Rose said. "If experts are telling us that needs to be done, and... children are being injured, I think we need to do that."
The National Transportation Safety Board says school buses are the safest vehicles on the road. Even so, they’ve recommended that school buses be equipped with 3-point seat belts to offer students the best protection possible.
Representatives from the Department of Education said it will cost about $12,000 per bus to equip with seatbelts. Rose says he’s willing to work across the aisle to find out how to make that happen.
“I’m going to work to have a bipartisan bill that’s put forward, and I hope that we can get it done, and improve the safety of school buses going forward,” Rose said.
To see coverage from WIS-TV NBC 10 (Columbia, SC), please click here