SECURES Act of 2026

Key Points

• The Department of Transportation would be required to start the process of making seat belts mandatory on all new school buses. This would apply to all new buses regardless of their size or weight, ensuring every student has the same level of protection.
• The focus is on "three-point" seat belts, which wrap over the shoulder and across the lap. Safety experts have found that these belts provide the best protection by keeping a child's whole body secure during a crash or sudden stop.
• The government will also look at new technology, like sensors that alert the driver when a student isn't buckled in. They will study the experiences of states that already require seat belts to see what works best for keeping kids safe.
• If passed, the Department of Transportation would have 180 days to publish the proposed rules. This move aims to address findings from safety boards that current bus designs without belts allow for too much body movement during accidents.

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