Fatal school bus accident raises belt debate

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A tragic school bus accident in Huntsville, Alabama, last week involving students from Lee High School has made national headlines. Four students died in the accident, and many others were injured. The tragedy has brought the debate about seatbelts on school buses to the forefront.

Proponents of seatbelts on school buses say that they could save lives and serious injuries. Would the Alabama school bus accident have caused these deaths if the students had been required to wear harness seatbelts? No one knows for sure.

Others raise the points that school buses are already the safest way for students to travel to and from school, with much fewer accidents and deaths occuring in buses vs. automobiles.

The National Transportation Safety Board is now in the hot seat, as they evaluate school bus safety and consider the seat belt debate.