PERSONNEL

All drivers of school vehicles will be required to properly wear the lap/shoulder restraint devices provided when operating the vehicles which are factory equipped with said equipment.

Failure to do so will result in the following progressive discipline procedure:

1. Two written warnings

2. Suspension

3. Termination

Rationale

Knowing the value of seat belt use, many major companies have adopted mandatory seat belt use by their drivers.  The most common reasons are protection from injury for the operator.  Numerous school districts have also mandated use for the same reasons, especially for drivers of school buses.

In addition, there are several Iowa school bus crashes where the driver was ejected from his/her seat and was, therefore, unable to possible further control the vehicle after the crash.  The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has documented numerous school bus accidents where the driver was ejected from his/her seat rendering them unable to possibly prevent a secondary impact.

• Reviewed 5/96, 7/03

• Revised 7/99