In speaking to a friend who lives in the Netherlands (where car driving is not done very often-- mostly people ride bikes, walk, or ride public transport), it came up that when her son was very small and they would take him on the bus, they had a harnessed seat that attached to the bus seat by straps that went around, cam-wrap style. I know some of these devices are sold for use in school buses (such as the SafeGuard STAR seat.)
My question is this: if it can be approved for sale and use in school buses, why can't we get a similar restraint that can be used on public buses? I would feel much safer taking my young children on the bus (where there are not any lap belts to secure their car seats, etc., and we often go ON THE FREEWAY here in L.A.) if I had some way to secure my under-40-lb. children while on the bus. (It would be a bonus if it could be used on the train, too.)
Is there some regulation that forbids this? If so, why? I think public transport ought to be a safe and viable option for people of ALL ages. I realize it's safer already than driving in the car-- but I DO hear of crashes involving buses and often injuries and sometimes even deaths every year, so I'm understandably nervous about having totally unrestrained small children on them, as I know many others are.
As a bonus, it would keep them SEATED. Sometimes it's not even a safety issue in a crash, but it's not safe for them to be standing, running around, etc. when the bus stops and starts up again either, and when you are one parent watching multiple children, it can be hard to keep them seated at all times, especially at certain ages.
My question is this: if it can be approved for sale and use in school buses, why can't we get a similar restraint that can be used on public buses? I would feel much safer taking my young children on the bus (where there are not any lap belts to secure their car seats, etc., and we often go ON THE FREEWAY here in L.A.) if I had some way to secure my under-40-lb. children while on the bus. (It would be a bonus if it could be used on the train, too.)
Is there some regulation that forbids this? If so, why? I think public transport ought to be a safe and viable option for people of ALL ages. I realize it's safer already than driving in the car-- but I DO hear of crashes involving buses and often injuries and sometimes even deaths every year, so I'm understandably nervous about having totally unrestrained small children on them, as I know many others are.
As a bonus, it would keep them SEATED. Sometimes it's not even a safety issue in a crash, but it's not safe for them to be standing, running around, etc. when the bus stops and starts up again either, and when you are one parent watching multiple children, it can be hard to keep them seated at all times, especially at certain ages.