School Bus Seat Belts Facing A Tough Sell

Even though an idea to put seat belts on school buses has popular support from parents, safety studies show it could do more harm than good.

Idaho lawmakers will have to weigh that research against what supporters say is just common sense as they consider a bill this session that would require seat belts on school buses.

The debate is over Senate Bill 1475, sponsored by Sen. Laird Noh, R-Kimberly. The proposal would require seat belts on all school buses by Jan. 1, 1999.

Idaho had 2,440 school buses in 1997. With a cost of $4.8 million for initial seat belt installation and another $1 million in annual replacement costs, the bill is a tough sell in Idaho, where school funding already is tight.

But it is not money that has Senate Education Committee Chairman Gary Schroeder of Moscow hesitant. He said he will not recommend the bill for a full Senate debate because of the safety studies.