Three full-scale collision experiments by researchers at the university of california (los angeles) involving school buses loaded with dummies representing children show that these buses have many deficiencies as far as safety is concerned. They involve the structure of the bus itself, the interior, the seats, and the passenger restraints. Knowledge of the deficiencies is, however, used in each case as the basis for specific suggestions for designing schools buses so that passenger injuries during collision will be reduced. Some of the specific suggestions that have been developed for making school buses safer are presented. /SAE/.
Abstract