Another Carseats on a Bus Question

MoreLatte · Jan 5, 2009

Ohio finally passed a law requiring children up to 8yrs/80pounds be in carseats/boosters! Yay! I don't know what took us so long! Of course, you have to be pulled over for another violation to be cited

Anyway, My DD's preschool has a bus they use for field trips. It has lap-only belts. Whenever they have a trip my DD participates in, they have us sign a paper stating whether the child is 4yrs/40pounds(current law) or under those limits and will be using a carseat.

The owner assures me that it is a certified bus with tall seatbacks, so it is no different than the larger school busses, so DD has ridden on it twice now(once with me) and has used a lap-only belt.

Now that the law is changing, will all the children have to have carseats? Obviously they can't use boosters because of the belts.

I'm confused. Since it is a bus, I'm just wondering where the cutoff will be for requiring a seat now?

ctbcleveland · Jan 5, 2009

Don't have an answer for you, but did want to cheer for the good news!

I think the new law goes into effect in July.

jen_nah · Jan 5, 2009

Usually the large size school buses are exempt from car seat/booster laws because how they are designed. I guess it depends on how your state law is written and if it has in that buses require a restraint to a certain age.

I assume the reason the preschool required 4 & under 40 to be restrained in a car seat might more have to do with maturity and be able to stay seated the whole trip.

As for the lapbelt I would not allow my child to ride on the bus in a lap belt only seatbelt. The reason it doesn't allow the bus seat/compartitlization to work properly. My girls ride the school bus to school everyday (5 & 7) and it doesn't concern me because school bus safety is far safer then them being in my vehicle.

MoreLatte · Jan 5, 2009

jen_nah said:
Usually the large size school buses are exempt from car seat/booster laws because how they are designed. I guess it depends on how your state law is written and if it has in that buses require a restraint to a certain age.

I assume the reason the preschool required 4 & under 40 to be restrained in a car seat might more have to do with maturity and be able to stay seated the whole trip.

As for the lapbelt I would not allow my child to ride on the bus in a lap belt only seatbelt. The reason it doesn't allow the bus seat/compartitlization to work properly. My girls ride the school bus to school everyday (5 & 7) and it doesn't concern me because school bus safety is far safer then them being in my vehicle.

So in my situation, where the children are required to wear a seat belt on the bus, what would be best to use? Should I just install her TF or is there another option? What about the 86Y? Does it require a shoulder belt?

Since the bus has high seatbacks, should she just ride without the belt? Maybe the owner doesn't realize that on a bus, its safer to ride without the belt?

brooklynsmommy · Jan 5, 2009

What about the safeguard star?

Unregistered1 · Jan 5, 2009

Has governor strickland signed it yet?? I think I remember hearing that he said he would sign it... but ooooh I'm so excited!

As far as the school bus issue. We have this issue at work too. We have a 15 passenger van with only 4 rear lap/shoulder belts and low seat backs. I am pretty sure that my boss would just put the kids in their boosters with the lap only belt if I didn't tell her otherwise (and maybe even if I did). I think we are getting a new bus this year though.

In your situation, does the bus have tether anchors avaliable? The 86Y requires a tether anchor, a heavy duty one. It comes with a tether kit but I don't know anything about doing it on the bus. Otherwise, I would take and install her five point seat... it's really the only way I'd feel comfortable.

Shaunam · Jan 5, 2009

It's about freaking time! I really hope the new law improves overall car seat usage around here. I went to the store yesterday and I saw *3* kids under the age of 4 (assuming, they were a lot smaller than DS) in absolutely nothing, all in different cars. It's just ridiculous.

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question. Just celebrating the new law.

hockeywoman · Jan 6, 2009

Yeah - it's about time. Though as foster parents, we've had that rule for us for a while now.

I hate dropping the kids off at daycare and seeing kids the same size or smaller than my 3 year old (who is the size of a 2 year old) in backless boosters or nothing at all. Now if only parents would care more about child safety!

ctbcleveland · Jan 6, 2009

MissKatie said:
Has governor strickland signed it yet??

I don't believe he has. I am waiting for his official signature to email everyone I know who is not using one. I figure before he signs, people could still protest, so I will keep my mouth shut for a few more weeks.

Kalinky · Jan 6, 2009

jen_nah said:
As for the lapbelt I would not allow my child to ride on the bus in a lap belt only seatbelt. The reason it doesn't allow the bus seat/compartitlization to work properly. My girls ride the school bus to school everyday (5 & 7) and it doesn't concern me because school bus safety is far safer then them being in my vehicle.

I totally agree with the above. I wouldn't even want to put myself in the lapbelt.

Is this an actual "school bus", or a smaller transport type bus? I don't know if the smaller transport type buses have the same compartmentalization safety design that school buses have

. If they require some sort of restraint and think that a lap only belt is a safe option, I'd definitely install the TF. And as far as when a HWH seat is outgrown, and them wanting to just put the kids in lapbelts only - they really need to figure something else out. The new booster law almost seems irrelevant since you can't use a booster with a lap only belt anyway. Maybe it will push them to get a newer, more safe bus?

Pixels · Jan 6, 2009

I think I'd check the box for under 4&40. DD might be perpetually stuck at 39 pounds

Another Carseats on a Bus Question

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