By KEVIN BESSLER
Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) – School buses in Illinois could be equipped with seat belts in the near future.
A measure to require the addition of three-point seat belts on school buses by 2031 passed the Illinois Senate last month. Wednesday, Senate Bill 191 passed the Illinois House of Representatives by an 83 to 27 vote and is now headed to the governor for his signature.
“A school bus is already pretty safe and all new manufactured school buses already are focusing on having the three-point seat belts,” said state Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, the bill’s sponsor. “It’s going to keep our children safer.”
The bill would grandfather in any school buses purchased before 2031.
Some have raised concerns about the seat belt impeding kids from escaping an emergency. Others point to the cost of installing seat belts on all buses.
“The Illinois School Transportation Association estimates the additional charge for the seat belts on a full-sized bus ranges from $7,000 to $18,000,” said state Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis.
Morgan noted that bus manufacturers are already including this in every bus that’s being made.
“Knowing their children are buckled in for their daily commute can give parents greater peace of mind,” said state Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, who presented the bill to the Senate. “School buses are already engineered for safety, but additional features can make them even safer.”
At the start of the school year, nine states had laws on the books regarding school bus seat belts, with Iowa being the only Midwestern state.
