AMARILLO, TEXAS -- An important state law went into effect September 1st. It requires that new school buses be equipped with seat belts. Durham School Services supplies more than 70 school buses for Amarillo ISD. Right now, only buses for special needs kids have seat belts on them, but that will change. According to the new law, all school district owned buses bought on or after September 1, 2010 must have lap and shoulder seat belts on board. But Durham's buses will not have seat belts for another 4 years.
"Contracted owned school buses which are what we are, you'll start seeing them on September 1, 2014 as when the requirements come in for us to start installing those seat belts.", says Ken Morris, General Manager at Durham School Services.
The Texas Education Agency has appropriated about $3.6 million to help school districts statewide with the cost of getting seat belts on those buses.
"Right now, from what am understanding they're raising funding for it so once that transpires then we'll abide by whatever regulations the state and federal level to start implementing that.", says Morris.
But until September 1, 2014, Morris says parents don't need to be worried about the safety of their children.
"Their children are safe on school buses and they are in compliance and meet a higher safety standard than a regular passenger car.", adds Morris.
Morris also says he wants parents to know, the seats on his buses are positioned close together to accommodate each person and says that means better protection.
