NTSB: At least 36 students did not wear seat belts in Leander ISD bus crash

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — In a recent report, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said at least 36 students were not wearing seat belts during a Leander Independent School District school bus crash on Aug. 13. The crash injured more than 16 children and the driver.

“Video evidence showed that, of the 42 student passengers visible in the video (out of the 46 passengers onboard), only six were belted,” the report says. “Four of those passengers were wearing only the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt,” the NTSB added, noting they didn’t have full visibility over some of the passengers.

“We’re not surprised that not everyone was wearing them,” Brad Brown said. “(A) school bus is about the only place that kids (are) going to be on any vehicle and learn not to use a seat belt.”

Brown started advocating for Texas schools to require three-point (shoulder) seat belts after his daughter Ashley Brown died in a bus crash on the way to a soccer game in 2006. His advocacy work culminated in the passage of Senate Bill 546 this year — requiring all Texas school buses to have three-point seat belts. If its too cost-prohibitive for a school district to retrofit a bus for a three-point seat belt, SB 546 still requires them to at least have a two-point (lap) seat belt.

“We’re grateful to see (Leander ISD) had school buses that were equipped with lap and shoulder belts for every kid on the bus,” Brown said. “We need to have policies in place that require the use of seat belts, just like we would in our car.”

The NTSB agrees with Brown, calling on not just Leander ISD — but the state of Texas to create new policies to ensure seat belts are worn properly. At a minimum, the NTSB has asked them to make policies and procedures that include:

• Mandatory pre-departure driver instruction to students to properly belt and periodic pre-departure inspection by drivers or other staff to ensure that each student is properly belted;
• Periodic review of onboard video camera footage, when equipped, to verify seat belt use; and
• Increased training and education of school administrators and staff, bus drivers, parents, and students about proper seat belt use and adjustment, seat belt policies and procedures, the safety benefits of seat belt use, and the importance of being properly belted.

While Leander ISD declined Nexstar’s request for an interview, they shared a message they sent to parents appearing to agree with the NTSB’s report.

In the release, the district said they took the following actions immediately following the crash:

• Driver Accountability and Monitoring: Drivers are required to confirm that students are properly belted before departing campuses each afternoon and to remind students during morning route. Team Leads will now conduct random video reviews to verify compliance.
• Clear Expectations and Communication: Families have received districtwide reminders via SMART Tag emphasizing that all riders must wear seatbelts on buses equipped with them.
• Safety Signage: Decals reinforcing seat belt expectations will be added inside each bus as a reminder for students and drivers.
• Training and Oversight: Additional education and training on seat belt use will be given to transportation staff, campus administrators and families. Routine audits and safety inspections will ensure compliance with district policy and state law.
• Policy Review and Audit: Leander ISD said it is creating an enforceable district policy for seat belt use, including procedures for monitoring, reporting and accountability.

The NTSB failed to reply to Nexstar’s request for comment, sending an out-of-office message saying their office’s work has been impacted due to the federal government shutdown.