A detailed questionnaire was distributed to 438 California school bus operators, i.e. school districts and contractors. Data from the returned questionnaires were used to evaluate the effect of the new pads in terms of pupil injuries and pad damage in terms of pupil exposure, and age and other factors such as community characteristics. A demonstration project was performed to determine the feasibility and effects of retrofitting pads to school buses currently in use. This activity consisted of retrofitting 16 buses in Southern California with pads and for a period of one year, monitoring pupil injury (or lack of injury) pad damage and pupil exposure. The results of both activities reveal that there appears to be a favorable cost/benefit relationship related to pads on school bus seats. The cost/benefit relationship together with the social and political emphasis placed on the protection of the nation's children indicates immediate priority should be given to seat pad retrofit for in-use school buses to complement the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirement for padding in new buses.
Abstract