Road Safety

Transporting Preschoolers for Group Outings

If you are organizing group outings with preschoolers, two criteria can help you choose the type of vehicle best suited to your needs.

1. The number of vehicles required for an outing
   Opt for a mode of transportation that minimizes the number of vehicles you will require. The more vehicles used, the higher the accident risk.
2. The weight of a vehicle
   Opt for a heavier vehicle. A heavier vehicle usually better protects passengers in the event of a crash.

Possible choices: School Bus or Minibus
Although a school bus does not have seat belts, it is an extremely safe vehicle for the following reasons:

• It is heavy;
• It is visible;
• It has a unique compartmentalization system that protects children in an accident;
• It can carry many children at once.

Even for very young children, a school bus provides at least 10 times more protection than a passenger vehicle equipped with child car seats.

Some modern school buses may have integrated child restraint systems or universal anchor systems to secure infant or child safety seats. These types of restraint systems offer added protection. Contact manufacturers for more information.

When transporting young children on a school bus, make sure there are enough supervisors present to ensure children remain seated. The number of individuals supervising may vary depending on circumstances, such as the age of children and length or type of activity.

Seat Belts and School Buses
Crash tests conducted by Transport Canada have revealed that seat belts in school buses could present a safety risk for children on board:

• The lap belt could cause serious injuries to the head and neck;
• The lab belt and shoulder belt combination could be a problem, since they cannot be adjusted to provide adequate protection for young children;
• Installing lap belts would require rigid seats, which would reduce the effectiveness of the compartmentalization system and the shock absorbing properties of the benches;

For more information, go to the Transport Canada Web site at www.tc.gc.ca

It is possible to add seat belts to meet special needs. Make sure to always follow the manufacturer's instructions, however, since this type of installation can present certain risks. The Isofix system, which was designed to avoid such risks, remains the preferred option.

Passenger Vehicle
If you choose to use a passenger vehicle, a heavier vehicle is a better option because its weight has an impact on the safety of passengers. Generally speaking, it is better to use a minivan rather than a sub-compact.

It's the Law!
In a vehicle, children whose sitting height is less than 63 cm (between the seat and the top of the head) must be secured in an appropriate car seat adapted to their weight. Offenders are subject to a fine between $80 and $100 and three demerit points.

Three Types of Child Car Seats

• Infant seats
  For children weighing less than 9-10 kg (20-22 lbs)
  Read the manufacturer's installation instructions carefully
• Child seats
  For children weighing between 9-18 kg (20 to 40 lbs), or if the seat fits in the vehicle, up to 30 kg (65 lbs)
  Read the manufacturer's installation instructions carefully
• Booster seats
  For children weighing 18 kg (40 lbs) or more
  Read the manufacturer's installation instructions carefully

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