By Bill Raack, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Two Missouri lawmakers will try again next year to require that all school buses in the state include seat belts.
Democratic state representative Sam Page of Creve Coeur and Republican representative Tim Flook of Liberty say the recent bus accident in Alabama that claimed four lives underscores the need for the legislation. Page also notes a recent study that indicates there are far more school bus-related injuries than previously reported,
"No one will argue with any credibility that a three-point restraint system is not safer. No one who researches this would argue that it's not safer to have a three-point restraint. The question is - is it a good investment and is it worth the investment?"
Under Page's proposal, people convicted of speeding or other moving violations would pay 15-dollars into a fund to help school districts buy buses equipped with seat belts.