The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is endorsing seat belts on school buses for the first time.

Mr. Mark Rosekind, an NHTSA administrator, acknowledged on Sunday, Nov. 8, that in the past the agency has not been clear on its position on seat belts in school buses.

NHTSA only requires lap-shoulder belts on buses that weigh 10,000  pounds or less, but it is up to the states or local jurisdictions to decide whether they want seat belts on larger school buses.

Only six states — California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, and Texas — require seat belts on school buses.

If seat belts save lives in cars, why do we not have seat belts on school buses?

According to businessinsider.com, the design of the seat belts and cost are the only thing keeping seat belts out of school buses.

The seats on large school buses are designed to absorb the impact of a child crashing into the seat.

The overall cost of seat belts outweighs the safety benefits. A study from the Alabama State Department of Education found that the cost could be anywhere between $32 million and $38 million to install seat belts on all state buses.

NHTSA believes that the greatest risk for a rider is not riding the bus but approaching and leaving the bus.

Ms. Sandra Penny, bus driver, believes that having seat belts on school buses could be risky if she was trying to evacuate a bus quickly.

“I transport younger kids. It would just be too hard to get everyone out,” Penny said. “When things happen, they happen fast.”