To buckle up...
The National Coalition for Seatbelts on School Buses lists the following as reasons why all large school buses should have seatbelts. (Smaller school buses that weigh less than 10,000 pounds are already required to have them.)
If a crash occurs, the use of seat belts will reduce the probability of death and the severity of injuries to children correctly seated in school buses.
Seat belt usage improves passenger behavior and reduces driver distractions.
Seat belts offer protection against injuries in rollover or side impact crashes.
Seat belt usage in school buses reinforces good safety habits.
The cost to install seat belts is nominal.
..Or not to buckle up
Opponents of seat belts on large buses disagree, saying that they are not only unnecessary, but could also be hazardous. According to the NHSTA:
Seat belts are of no value in the majority of fatal accidents.
More children are killed around school buses -- walking to and from the school bus stop -- than inside school buses.
No data proves conclusively that seat belts reduce fatalities or injuries on school buses.
School buses are specifically designed with safety in mind. They are heavier and experience less crash force than smaller cars and trucks. School buses also have high padded seats specifically design to absorb impact.
There is no guarantee that once installed students will use seatbelts. Studies have shown that mixed and improper use of seat belts can increase the risk of injuries.
There is concern that seat belts could be used as weapons to strike or choke other passengers.
Money proposed for seat belt installation could be better spent on other safety measures.
Like just about everything - plenty of info on the 'net:
http://life.familyeducation.com/school/safety/36260.html
Also, many police departmemnts are moving to Chevy Malibus that get much better gas mileage than Crown Vics.