VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., (WVEC) — The National Traffic Safety Board suggests all new large school buses should have lap and shoulder seatbelts.
This federal recommendation comes a week after a fatal school bus crash in New Jersey.
So, will Hampton Roads schools add seat belts in light of the federal level suggestion?
The communications director of the Virginia Department of Education, Charles Pyle, said the state does not require seat belts for school buses.
"The state doesn’t prohibit three-point belt systems in school buses. It just doesn’t mandate the system," said Pyle.
Henrico County added seatbelts to their busses in 2017.
It was part of a county ordinance that said all cars purchased with taxpayer dollars by the county, would have seat belts, that includes school buses.
During the 2018 General Assembly session, two bills would have a required three-point belt system, but both were left in the House Education Committee.
"Every year we do hear about this issue, and I expect we will next year as well," said Pyle.
13News Now reached out to seven Hampton Roads school divisions.
Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News and Chesapeake public school spokespeople said that if the state changes its policy, they will add seatbelts.
13News Now spoke with the director of transportation services for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, David Pace.
He said the seatbelt debate is nothing new to him.
"I’ve been dealing with it for 35 years that I’ve been in the business," said Pace.
There have been a number of wrecks involving school buses in Virginia Beach in 2018. The crashes took place on May 14th, one on May 17th, and on February 12th.
No one was hurt seriously in any of them, and Pace insists busses are safe now without seatbelts like cars have.
"You know we think you know they’re good in cars. Well a car is a lot different than a large school bus," said Pace. "These are like driving a tank, and most of the crashes we have are very minor because of the structure of the bus."
He said not having seat belts would allow kids to get away from an emergency, quickly.
In addition, Pace said large school buses cost about 86-thousand dollars, and seat belts could cost the city or state an additional $9 thousand.
With the recommendations, any state changes still remain to be seen and if changes do happen.
"We would, of course, comply with any regulation that would require seatbelts on school buses," Pace said.
The NTSB board also recommended automatic emergency brakes and collision-avoidance systems on new school buses.
To read the full NTSB report, click here.
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