LEANDER, Texas — The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a safety recommendation urging stronger seat belt enforcement on school buses, this coming as part of the Board’s ongoing investigation into the Leander ISD bus crash that sent 17 students to the hospital.
In a report dated to Oct. 20, the NTSB says it recommends that Leander ISD, the state of Texas and school bus associations better ensure that students are properly belted when they ride to school.
In the crash on Aug. 13, 17 students and the driver were taken to the hospital with injuries.
The NTSB says that, of the 42 people observed in security footage from the bus, only six wore seatbelts. Four of those six children only wore the lap portion of the seatbelt without the shoulder belt, according to the NTSB.
ALSO | Leander ISD bus crash leads to heightened frustrations in Sandy Creek area
NTSB investigators have concluded that Leander ISD officials “did not take sufficient action” to ensure passengers wore their seatbelts correctly, according to the report.
Texas code, according to the NTSB, requires passengers on equipped school buses to wear seat belts. The NTSB recommends that the state of Texas require implementation of those enforceable policies and procedures for proper seat belt use on school buses.
CBS Austin has reached out to Leander ISD for comment.