No. H044/06
For release June 2, 2006
BUCKINGHAM — Transport Canada takes the safety of children very seriously;
therefore, as of April 1, 2007, all new school buses will have the tools needed
to be able to accommodate infant and child seats. Depending on the size of the
bus, between two and eight seats will be fitted with user-ready tether and lower
universal anchorages on bench seats.
"Small children are now riding on school buses more frequently and need to be
better protected," said Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure
and Communities. "School buses are already a very safe way for children to
travel, and allowing the use of child seats will make it even safer for children
weighing less than 18 kilograms."
Transport Canada requires school bus seats to be made of energy-absorbing
materials, which provide effective passive protection known as
compartmentalization. However, the department's research has shown that, while
bus seats protect school-age children effectively, small or pre-school aged
children would benefit from a properly installed infant or child seat.
Other changes are also being made to existing regulations following
consultations with stakeholders. For example, the regulations specify that
infant and child seat anchorage systems on school buses must not be installed
next to emergency exits.
Under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, Transport Canada establishes safety
regulations for new and imported vehicles. These regulations cover the vehicle's
original equipment, child restraint systems and tires. Transport Canada began
requiring top tether anchorages to be standard in passenger cars fifteen years
ago, while lower universal anchorages have been required since 2002, enabling
parents or caregivers to secure child car seats in place. The new regulations
will extend these requirements to school bus seats.
These changes were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on May 31, 2006.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Anne-Marie Bouchard
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613)993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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