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Nashville schools to study feasibility of seat belts on buses

Jason Gonzales
jagonzales@tennessean.com

Metro Nashville Public Schools will study whether it's practical to put seat belts on its school buses.

The school board voted unanimously Tuesday night for Director of Schools Shawn Joseph to look into the feasibility of a move.

"It’s a no-brainer that you want to keep students safe," said board chair Anna Shepherd on Monday. "It's one of the main focuses of the district. But does this come with a price? Yes, it does."

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The vote was requested by the Metro Council, which passed a resolution to consider requiring future public school buses in Nashville to be equipped with seat belts. The resolution came after a November Chattanooga bus crash in which six children were killed and numerous others were injured. A police officer said the driver was going approximately 20 miles over the speed limit at the time.

School officials said in December that seats belts would cost an additional $12,000 per new bus. And, over time, Metro would have to increase its fleet of buses to over 800 because buses outfitted with seat belts hold fewer students.

Shepherd said if Joseph highly recommends buses should have seat belts, then the next step would be seeking funding for any potential move.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's top official has said since 2015 three-point lap shoulder belts should be in buses, but the agency has stopped short of enforcement. The NHTSA says school buses, even without safety belts, are a safe means of travel.

Reach Jason Gonzales at 615-259-8047 and on Twitter @ByJasonGonzales

Council asks Nashville school board to consider seat belts in new buses

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