Mandatory seat belt law proposal for charter buses spurred after fatal Orange County crash
While seatbelts have been required on coach buses since 2013, there is currently no law mandating passengers to wear them.
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Lawmakers in Albany are considering new legislation mandating seat belt usage on charter buses following a deadly accident in Orange County this past September.
The incident involved a charter bus carrying band members from a Long Island school, which tumbled 50 feet down an embankment off I-84 in the town of Wawayanda. Tragically, two adults lost their lives, and dozens of students sustained injuries.
Prompted by this tragedy, the National Transportation Safety Board has initiated an investigation into the crash's cause.
While seatbelts have been required on coach buses since 2013, there is currently no law mandating passengers to wear them. However, the proposed legislation would change that, requiring anyone 8 years old and above to wear a seatbelt on charter buses. Failure to comply would result in a $50 fine.
