AUSTIN (Nexstar) — In a recent report, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said at least 36 students were not wearing seat belts during a school bus crash in the Leander Independent School District on Aug. 13. The accident injured more than 16 children and the driver.
“Video evidence showed that of the 42 student passengers shown in the video (of the 46 passengers on board), only six were wearing seat belts.” The report says. “Four of these passengers were wearing only the lap portion of the shoulder/lap belt,” the NTSB added, noting that some passengers did not have a full view.
“We’re not surprised not everyone is wearing it,” Brad Brown said. “(A)school bus is the only place children will be in any vehicle and learn not to use a seat belt.”
Brown began advocating for Texas schools to require three-point (shoulder) seat belts after his daughter, Ashley Brown, died in a bus accident on her way to a football game in 2006. His advocacy work culminated in passing Senate Bill 546 This year – all school buses in Texas are required to wear three-point seat belts. If it is too expensive for a school district to retrofit a bus to a three-point seat belt, SB 546 still requires them to have at least a two-point (lap) seat belt.
“We are grateful to see (Leander ISD) having school buses equipped with lap and shoulder belts for every child on the bus,” Brown said. “We need to put in place policies that require the use of seat belts, just like we do in our car.”
The NTSB agrees with Brown, calling on not only Leander ISD — but the state of Texas — to institute new policies to ensure seat belts are worn correctly. At a minimum, the NTSB required them to establish policies and procedures that include:
- Mandatory pre-departure driver instructions for students to properly fasten their seat belt and periodic pre-departure checks by other drivers or staff to ensure that each student is wearing their seat belt correctly;
- Periodically review on-board video camera footage, when equipped, to verify seat belt use; and
- Increase training and education for school administrators, staff, bus drivers, parents, and students about proper seat belt use and adjustment, seat belt policies and procedures, the safety benefits of seat belt use, and the importance of wearing a seat belt correctly.
While Leander ISD declined Nexstar’s request for an interview, they did share a letter they sent to parents It appears to agree with the NTSB report.
The district said in the statement that it took the following measures immediately after the accident occurred:
- Driver accountability and monitoring: Drivers are asked to ensure students are properly buckled before leaving campus each afternoon and to remind students during the morning route. Team leaders will now conduct random video reviews to verify compliance.
- Clear expectations and communication: Families received district-wide reminders via SMART Tag emphasizing that all passengers must wear seat belts on buses equipped with them.
- Safety signsReinforced seat belt stickers will be added inside each bus as a reminder to students and drivers.
- Training and supervision: Additional education and training on seat belt use will be provided to transportation staff, campus administrators and families. Routine audits and safety inspections will ensure compliance with district policy and state law.
- Policy review and audit: Leander ISD said it is creating an enforceable district policy for seat belt use, including monitoring, reporting and accountability procedures.
The NTSB failed to respond to Nexstar’s request for comment, sending an out-of-office letter stating that their office’s work had been impacted by the federal government shutdown.