Senator Booker Introduces Legislation Mandating Seat Belts on All New School Buses Nationwide

128 people were killed in school bus-related crashes in 2022, including passengers, pedestrians, and occupants of other vehicles

Students are roughly 70 times more likely to arrive at school safely by bus than by car, according to NHTSA

Only 8 states currently require seat belts on large school buses — leaving 42 states with no such mandate

Adding seat belts to a large school bus costs an estimated $7,000–$10,000 per vehicle, and can reduce seating capacity

Federal law currently requires school districts to check bus drivers' records only once per year, leaving up to 364 days before a violation is discovered