The school bus accident in Cherokee County where several children were injured has re-ignited the debate over seatbelts on school buses.
In Georgia, except for those carrying special needs children, most public school buses don't have seatbelts.
The issue over seatbelts on school buses pits those who investigate the accidents and against those who treat the victims: The National Transportation Safety Board versus The American Academy of Pediatrics.
"If we are going to look at one thing that could make a difference in decreasing injuries, it's going to be the use of appropriate seat belts," said Dr. Gary Smith, a pediatrician.
The American Academy of Pediatrics finds 17,000 children are injured each year in school buses.
The reasons injuries come from various sources, including school bus accidents, or instances when the driver stops suddenly and kids go flying.
Kids are also hurt when they're standing up when the bus is moving and they fall.
A majority of accidents occur when students get on and off buses.
Still, overall, Debbie Hersman with the NTSB said "school buses have a very safe record and in large part it's because of their size and design standards that have been in existence for nearly 30 years,.?
"We just have to get these kids off in a hurry and I just feel like that seatbelts would slow that process down." explains Gene Thomason, Transportation Director of Cherokee County Schools.
In a 2006 interview, Thomason pointed to NTSB safety studies showing high padded seats protect children.
"They are close together and the high schoolers, they complain at little bit, but the purpose of that close-spacing is the compartmentalization, so if you go forward you're going to have plenty of padding," shares Thomason.
Other safety measures keep kids safe getting on and off buses include mirrors to eliminate blinds spots, reinforced steel rails and buses with raised floors, so vehicles hit underneath.
School bus drivers also go through extensive safety training.
Kids are also trained.
"We practice, if there is an accident, evacuation tips, what you do," explains Kelly Jo Brooks, Principal, Hickory Flat Elementary.
The hope is that practice never becomes reality.
A major argument for public school districts against seat belts on school buses is the cost.
Bus manufacturers say it adds between $1,500 and $2,000 to the cost of a new bus.
The cost to retro-fit an existing bus is even higher at $2,700 to $3,400.
