On this page:

• Is a school bus safe?
• Other vehicles have seat belts – why don't school buses?
• What's wrong with lap-only belts? 
• How does compartmentalization work?
• Does compartmentalization work for everybody?
• How can a child restraint be connected if there are no seat belts?
• Is my child safer in a school bus?

Is a school bus safe?

Conclusion

• Considering that this study is presumed to contain the most severe collisions during the eight-year period, Canadian school buses provide excellent occupant protection.

Recommendations

• Rollover
• Side Impact
• Ejection

Rollover

Know government roles in large passenger van safety

• The federal government (Transport Canada) sets and enforces the safety standards required for new vehicles sold in Canada and imported vehicles (new, used), and regulates Federal jurisdiction motor carriers (eg., commercial vehicle drivers hours of service regulations)
• The provincial/territorial governments' highway traffic acts regulate vehicle drivers and vehicle use.

ESC is the generic name that is used by Transport Canada; the term is also recognized by the Society of Automotive Engineers. However, vehicle manufacturers use many different trade names for their stability systems.

Here is a list of names for ESC; the information was either provided by the manufacturers or from their Canadian web sites.

TP14811 E

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In November 2005, the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) asked the Ontario government to mandate speed limiters set at a maximum speed of 105 km/h. Since then the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and its provincial affiliates have announced their support for making this policy national.

TP14810 E

Executive Summary

TP14832 E

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Policy Objective

The purpose of this document is to define parameters on how the Minister’s opinion is formed, and against what criteria, in granting exemptions from regulatory requirements and to ensure the exemption process is equitable to all those who come forward with a request, while simultaneously ensuring the best interests of the public are protected.

July 1999
TP13412E