Seat belts can add extra safety to buses. They can hold students inside seats securely. Another benefit is that they can keep kids from sliding out of the seats during a sudden swerve. I want seat belts on buses because I think they can help keep kids safer.

If there were seat belts on buses, they could probably reduce the injuries and deaths caused by crashes. In addition to large padded seats, seat belts could be another safety feature. If the bus driver stopped abruptly, kids wouldn’t have a chance of even slamming into the seat in front of them — if wearing a seat belt.

Another advantage would be that the seat belts could keep the kids from standing up in the seats during the ride. This is a big risk.

Kids on my bus stand up in the seats and get shoved into the seat in front of them when the bus driver needs to suddenly put on the brakes. Seat belts may also prevent kids from falling against the roof if the bus was to flip over.

A disadvantage to putting in seat belts would be that they are expensive. It would be between $5,485 and $7,346 for one large bus. Also they might be hard to get out of quickly enough during an emergency, like a fire. Students would need to unbuckle them very fast. Without seat belts, students could basically get right out.

Overall, I think seat belts on buses are a good way to go. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. To me, safety and protection are worth the cost. I want seat belts on buses.

JAMES HILL

Johnson City