COTTAGE GROVE, Minn. — Students and bus drivers are going through a change at South Washington County Schools. Seat belts were added to 10 new buses this school year.
"They're [bus drivers] constantly going between looking forward at traffic and also checking the mirror on students," said Andy Smith, Assistant Director of Transportation Operations for South Washington County Schools.
So, to cut down on the distraction and to boost child safety, the district says it's committed to adding seat belts on all of its buses in the next 10 years. Carrie Olson, Director of Transportation, believes it will help bus drivers manage the bus as well.
It cost the district upwards of $3,000 per bus to add seat belts. Currently, there is no law in Minnesota that requires seat belts on full-sized buses, but Olson thinks it will become law at some point so she said the district is trying to get ahead of the potential change.
"Our district administration has made a commitment to doing it ahead of the curve even though we don't have to so we you know want to be one of those trend setters in providing more student safety," said Olson.
Bus drivers are still working out the kinks in terms of getting kids to actually buckle up, so it's a work in progress.
