Citation

Turner R. Collision 2007; 2(1): 28-33.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Collision Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 222 establishes performance requirements for school bus passenger seating and restraining barriers. The conventional interpretation of FMVSS 222 as it applies to conventional or transit-style school buses is that large school bus interiors provide occupant protection by means of compartmentalization so that children are protected without the need for seat belts. This article presents arguments for and against the concept of school bus compartmentalization as passenger protection during collisions. Data suggests that compartmentalization as a passive restraint system is effective only during a narrow range of collision types and intensities. Compartmentalization as a safety envelope also requires that students be properly seated, and fails to keep students safe when they are ejected outside of that narrow space during collisions.