New Hanover Co. Schools to test school bus seat belts

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Starting this summer New Hanover County Schools will get five new school buses equipped with seat belts, as part of a state pilot program.

The NC Department of Public Instruction Transportation Services says seat belts have been available on school buses for several years, but those buses cost $93,000. That’s $10,000 more than a bus without seat belts.

New Hanover County is among several school districts that volunteered for the pilot program, the goal of whichis to begin gathering real-world experiences for the NCDPI Transportation Services.

A school bus seat with seat belts. (Photo: New Hanover Co. Schools)

The district says the new buses will be used with elementary, middle and high school routes. The list of which schools and routes the buses will be assigned has not yet been determined.

According to a news release, the seat belts are very similar to those on cars, so most students will be used to wearing the seat belts.