WWYD? kinder feild trip on a BIG bus

**horseymom** · 03-31-2010, 09:38 AM

DD has a kindergarden trip to the zoo in june and I'm unsure on what to do. It's a 2 hour drive on highway into the big city. It's not a school bus but a "greyhound" type one. I would be going with her on the bus, I know she would love to go with the other kids in the class as I always drive her to all the other feild trips. Is it too risky? should I drive myself? (If I do I would have to bring DS)

WWYD?

**Car-Seat.Org** · 03-31-2010 09:38 AM

**wendytthomas** · 03-31-2010, 12:44 PM

It's eight times safer for her on the bus than in your car. I'd let her go and ride with her if you'd like.

Wendy

**Maggie** · 03-31-2010, 02:32 PM

I'd let go and not think twice about it.

**horseymom** · 03-31-2010, 02:36 PM

thanks. it's just hard to travel even for me with out a seatbelt lol

**Gypsy** · 03-31-2010, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by wendytthomas

It's eight times safer for her on the bus than in your car. I'd let her go and ride with her if you'd like.

Wendy

??

I thought that statistic was for school buses.

Greyhound type buses don't have compartmentalization, aren't bright yellow, don't follow the same basic route, and also don't have seat belts. The statistic for them isn't the same.

**Raegansmom4** · 03-31-2010, 03:41 PM

Would this charter bus maybe have seatbelts you could install a carseat with?

**horseymom** · 03-31-2010, 04:18 PM

umm... ok??? scared now??!!

**horseymom** · 03-31-2010, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by Raegansmom4

Would this charter bus maybe have seatbelts you could install a carseat with?

no, it has no seat belts

**wendytthomas** · 03-31-2010, 04:26 PM

The last Greyhound bus I was on had tall seats that were padded, same as a school bus. No, not bright yellow, but still pretty darn noticeable.

The eight times safer is a school bus without seatbelts. Lap belts only decrease that number, shoulder and lap (that fit) and/or harnesses I think may increase it.

Even if it's not eight times, I'd be willing to bet that a big Greyhound bus is going to win a fight against nearly anything, much better than my car will, and the compartmentalization will still be there.

Wendy

**Evolily** · 03-31-2010, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by wendytthomas

Even if it's not eight times, I'd be willing to bet that a big Greyhound bus is going to win a fight against nearly anything, much better than my car will, and the compartmentalization will still be there.

I'd do it. Compartmentalization isn't like seatbelts, it's not a "you either have it or you don't" deal. Any large, modern bus with seats will have aspects of compartmentalization. And school buses do not, usually, have harnesses of any kind beyond lap belts, which by all appearances make bus travel less safe.

A child restraint is only part of the picture when it comes to passenger safety. Vehicle size and driver experience increase safety quite a bit. It may not be "8 times safer", but I will bet it's as safe or safer than traveling in a brand new family vehicle, with all of the safety features, in a child restraint used properly by best practice standards.

**canadiangie** · 03-31-2010, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by horseymom

DD has a kindergarden trip to the zoo in june and I'm unsure on what to do. It's a 2 hour drive on highway into the big city. It's not a school bus but a "greyhound" type one. I would be going with her on the bus, I know she would love to go with the other kids in the class as I always drive her to all the other feild trips. Is it too risky? should I drive myself? (If I do I would have to bring DS)

WWYD?

The hwy you'll be on is divided, during the day it's pretty empty, a greyhound type bus is going to be limited to 100km/hr (I assume), and like everyone else stated, travel by bus is surprisingly safe. You'll be with her to keep her seated at all times. I know it seems odd to travel with no seatbelts and car seats but you should feel okay about this trip. (Now, once you get on the Deerfoot that's another thing... life is just scary at that point... I'd prefer to be in a HUGE bus at all times when on the Deerfoot...

)

Just go...