CBC TV discovers flaws in widely used study against seatbelts
School busses have a fairly good safety record, generally a child is many times safer riding in a bus than in a car. A 2006 report by the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice (CIPP) in Columbus, Ohio noted that many 40 per cent of injuries occur due to accidents or collisions, although most are minor. The report notes that a quarter of reported injuries are due to getting on or off the bus, while more deaths occur in an area of about 3-4 metres around the bus than in the bus.
Since 1984 in Canada, there have been 23 school bus deaths and over 10,000 injuries.
Seatbelts, and a requirement to actually use them, are mandatory in Canada for passenger vehicles, but not for busses.
In 1984, Transport Canada conducted a study that showed that seatbelts on school busses would not reduce injury and may in fact result in more serious injuries. That study has been widely quoted by bus companies to not install seatbelts
An investigative news story by the CBC, Canada’s national public broadcaster on seatbelts in school busses has come to a much different conclusion
Investigation by “The Fifth Estate” programme consulted a number of experts and reports and says many deaths and injuries could have been prevented through the use of seatbelts.
The Fifth Estate found that the widely cited 1984 Transport Canada report did not test for side impact and rollovers (Fifth Estate)
In 2010, a Transport Canada study indicated seatbelts could prevent injuries in side impact cases.
The federal government did introduce guidelines for seatbelt use for bus companies which on their own initiative, chose to install them.
As a result of the CBC findings, federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau has instructed his department to re-examine the issue and evidence collected since the 1984 study.
Additional information-sources
- CBC: The Fifth Estate: Oct 14/18: seatbelts could have prevented injuries, deaths
- CBC: Fifth Estate: broadcast episode
- Canadian Press (via iPolitics) Ocdt 15/18 Transport Canada to review policy
- Canada Safety Council: seatbelts not required
- Ministry of Transport Ontario: School bus safety
- Stanford Children’s Health: Seatbelts, school busses CIPP study
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.