Seat belts required for bus drivers too

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) - A Carmel school bus driver who slammed into a house blamed the crash on the fact that he wasn't wearing his seat belt . That earned him a ticket - because school bus drivers are no exception to the rule. It's state law - as well as Carmel Clay Schools policy - that drivers are required to wear seat belts.

Jack David Thomas, the bus driver, told police he was bounced out of his seat during a rough turn and subsequently lost control of the bus, which hit the garage of a Carmel home Wednesday morning.

There are bus features, though, that could help prevent a crash like the one in Carmel from happening.

“When you think about driving a school bus, and you look to your right, there's nothing there to stop you from falling in the aisle,” said James Johnson of IMMI, which manufactures safety systems for school buses.
Johnson pointed out that when bus drivers are wearing seat belts, they have a 45 percent better chance of making it out of an accident unharmed.

“Even simple bumps or small fender-benders can cause the driver to fall out of the seat if they're not wearing the belt, down the stairwell, leaving no control of the vehicle,” he said.

Johnson said bus features can help remind drivers to fasten their seat belts before they go. An orange strap is being installed on some school buses, making it easier to see. Another electronic feature beeps when the driver is not wearing a belt.

One bus driver we talked to Thursday, Gladys Heinz, said it’s even more important for the driver to be safe because in the event of a crash, they need to be able to help their young passengers.

"I wear a seat belt every day," she said.

A representative with the Indiana State School Bus Driver's Association said every year all bus drivers go through a safety training course in which they are reminded of the state law.

In Thursday’s crash, no children were on the bus.

Thomas declined a request for interview regarding the crash.

Carmel Clay Schools officials encouraged parents and students to let them know if they see a bus driver without a seat belt.