December 21, 2015
The Honorable Mark R. Rosekind, PhD
Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Dear Dr. Rosekind:
On behalf of the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) and the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for speaking at the NAPT Summit in Richmond, Virginia on November 8, 2015, and addressing one of the most important issues to the school transportation industry – seat belts on large school buses.
Given the significance of the change in NHTSA’s policy announced on November 8, 2015, we would like to explain our many concerns with your recent recommendation. We would also like to meet with you and your senior staff to discuss these concerns and ask to be included in the committee you are forming to further explore this issue. We are not opposed to seat belts, but for us this issue is about two things – decisions that are supported by science and data and ensuring that as many children as possible have access to the safest environment in which to travel to and from school.
