I explained to children on school buses that under normal circumstances, they were safer without wearing a seat belt, that the cushion in front of them would act more like an air bag, spreading out the load over time and area, reducing the high force experienced by an unforgiving seat-belt. “In fact, seat belts only help you in case the driver turns the bus over, and how likely am I to do that again?”
“AGAIN?” and then they started snapping their belts..
To be honest, though, more forgiving system should be developed. Let the belt stretch if the restraining force gets high enough. Seat belts should also retract to be snug on the user and not loose when not in use. A common cause of injury on buses is children swinging belts around and hitting each other with the buckles at the end.
Also, although less important if the other parts were done, the male portion of a seat-belt should be covered with a soft plastic which will yield to allow it to be snapped into the female portion (yes, I know, sexist terms, I am so ashamed of myself) but stop it from being a hard object if slung or swung around to hit others.
I explained to children on school buses that under normal circumstances, they were safer without wearing a seat belt, that the cushion in front of them would act more like an air bag, spreading out the load over time and area, reducing the high force experienced by an unforgiving seat-belt. “In fact, seat belts only help you in case the driver turns the bus over, and how likely am I to do that again?”
“AGAIN?” and then they started snapping their belts..
To be honest, though, more forgiving system should be developed. Let the belt stretch if the restraining force gets high enough. Seat belts should also retract to be snug on the user and not loose when not in use. A common cause of injury on buses is children swinging belts around and hitting each other with the buckles at the end.
Also, although less important if the other parts were done, the male portion of a seat-belt should be covered with a soft plastic which will yield to allow it to be snapped into the female portion (yes, I know, sexist terms, I am so ashamed of myself) but stop it from being a hard object if slung or swung around to hit others.