Introduction
Buses are a common form of transportation. They can range from small, local buses to large, long-distance coaches with multiple levels and various amenities like restrooms or snack bars. No matter which type of bus, there are always seats. And within those seats lie a few secrets that can help you to stay safe and comfortable during your trip.
The first thing to remember is the safest place to sit is usually the back. The front seats are closest to the driver, so if there is an accident or sudden braking, you are more likely to be injured.
But what about when you are sitting in the back? There is a hierarchy of safety, and it starts with the window seat. The side of your body that faces away from the glass will be protected by it during an accident. The next safest place to sit in the aisle seat, as you have an escape route in case of an emergency. And finally, the middle seat is the least safe choice because it leaves you with no protection from the side.
Child safety seats on a bus
There are many different types of buses and each has different safety requirements. For example, a city bus is going to have different safety features than a school bus. The safest seat in a school bus is generally in the middle, in an aisle seat on the right-hand side, between the tires.
Parents often wonder if their child needs to use a car seat on a bus. The answer is that it depends on the type of bus. For example, Greyhound, Megabus, and tour buses have different rules than city buses do.
Generally speaking, though, it is a good idea to use a child safety seat when traveling by bus. Many long-distance buses now have seat belts, and some even have lower latch anchors which can be used with certain types of car seats. If you are planning a long-distance bus journey with your child, be sure to check and see which bus companies offer seat belts or lower latch anchors. Children’s bus seats should be like this:
- Child safety seats should be placed in the middle of the bus
- Child safety seats should be facing the back of the bus
- The distance between child safety seats should be at least 2 feet
Adult safety belts on a bus
There is no one definitive answer to the question of which are the safest seats on a bus School buses do not have seat belts, but there are some exceptions. In general, school buses disperse crash forces differently than other types of vehicles, which is why they don’t usually have seat belts.
However, in 2013, the NSW Government announced that seatbelts would be mandatory on school buses in rural and regional areas within 10 years. This means that eventually, all school buses will likely have seat belts. Adult passengers should use safety belts when riding on a bus, regardless of where they are seated.
On the other hand, seat belts can be used as a weapon in cases of disputes between students. In addition, during emergency situations such as fire or an earthquake, seat belts may become a hindrance and prevent passengers from escaping.
The safest place on a bus is in the middle
The safest place to sit on a bus is in the seat immediately behind the driver’s seat. This is because the driver can see everything that is happening in front of the bus, and if an emergency occurs, he or she will be able to take appropriate action. The best long-distance bus seats are located in the center of the cabin.
This is because it gives passengers more space and makes it easier to get up and walk around. After finding out from the carrier how the seats are located on the bus, try to give preference to seats installed on the right side of the bus. This is because the driver will be able to see you and if necessary, stop the bus in time.
The safest place to sit on a bus is in the seat immediately behind the driver. This is because the driver can see everything that is happening in front of the bus, and if an emergency occurs, he or she will be able to take appropriate action.
The best long-distance buses are fitted with a driver’s cabin. This is because it gives passengers more space and makes it easier to get up and walk around. After finding out from the carrier how the seats are located, choose a seat that is closest to the driver’s cabin. This will make it easier for you to get up and move around if necessary, and also increase your safety in case of an emergency.
Seatbelts save lives in a collision
Despite the fact that seatbelts save lives in a collision, bus drivers will continue to be exempt from monitoring or enforcing their passengers to wear them. This is due to an exemption in the law that allows bus drivers to forgo wearing seatbelts while driving.
Even though school buses will be fitted with adult safety belts, they will still be exempt from monitoring or enforcing passengers to wear seatbelts. This is because the Department for Transport believes that the benefits of wearing a seatbelt while on a bus are outweighed by the risk of children not being able to escape in an emergency.
Seats near the front or back of the bus are more dangerous in a collision
When it comes to safety on a bus, the seats near the front and back are more dangerous in a collision. The safest seat is generally located in the middle of the bus, between the tires. After finding out from the carrier where safe seats are located on a bus, try to give preference to seats on the right side of a passenger compartment (near an aisle).
All buses should have adult safety belts
There are many reasons why adult safety belts should be installed on buses, including to protect the children, to cushion over impacts, or because large and small school buses accumulate impact forces differently. One of these is that seatbelts are not necessary on long-gone models of school buses, while another reason is that they must use them on all passenger cars with a seating capacity of more than 8 passengers in the National Road Safety Strategy published by the Australian Government (Australia) in July 2013.
Which are the safest seats on a bus?
The safest seat on a bus is in the middle (aisle seats), between the two front tires. This is because it is the most protected from potential accidents.
After finding out from the bus carrier how the seats are located on the bus, try to give preference to seats installed near the aisle. This way, you will be able to get up and move around more easily in case of an emergency.
When traveling by bus, the best seats are located in the center of the cabin. This is because they are farthest away from potential hazards such as exits and windows. Additionally, the center seats tend to be more comfortable than those on the sides.
Conclusion
Towards the end of the article, the author provides a conclusion about the safest seats on a bus. It is advised that passengers should sit in the middle rows to have the best chance of surviving in case of an accident.
FAQs
Which seat is the best in a bus? ›
The middle seat is usually seen as the best option because it is not too close to either side and offers more legroom than either of the side seats. Window seats on buses can be a death trap for people with anxiety disorders.
Where are the best seats on the bus? ›Stay away from the back of the bus on the bottom deck and from anyone with a takeaway. Priority seats on the bottom deck are best. Second best is the top deck, three rows from the front, on the aisle seat.
What is the safest seat in? ›The safest place in the vehicle is the centre of the back seat, being positioned the furthest point away from any possible point of impact. Some older vehicles do only have a lap belt so it is essential to check that your seat is suitable for one of those. However, most new cars now do have 3 point diagonal belts.
Where is the most comfortable seat on a bus? ›Whatever maybe the type of bus you travel in (Volvo, Volvo multiaxle, Leyland, even city transport buses) the seats which are somewhat centered between the front and rear axles are the most comfortable. This is because the jerks of both the axles will not be directly transmitted to the seats located in between them.
What is the safest seat on a school bus? ›The safest seat in a school bus is generally in the middle, in an aisle seat on the right hand side, between the tires. It's safer if there's a head-on, side and rear-end collision. It is also less bumpy and jarring to the body. In addition, studies show that children are often injured approaching or leaving the bus.
What is the least bumpy part of bus? ›The least bumpy part of a bus is in the middle between the two wheel axles. The back is the most bumpy- it's like a see saw.
Is the front or back of the bus better? ›They are the least comfortable. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Bombay say the seats in front, including the driver's seat, and the rear seats are the most uncomfortable because they experience the most vibrations (Indian Journal of Technology, Vol 30, No 6).
What is the most comfortable way to sleep on a bus? ›- Invest in a travel pillow and eye mask. ...
- Wear comfortable clothing and pack a blanket. ...
- Bring water and snacks with you on board. ...
- Choose a seat toward the middle of the bus. ...
- Listen to audio with noise-canceling headphones. ...
- Consider taking a sleep aid.
If you're placing only one car seat in the back seat, install it in the center of the seat — if a good fit is possible. Placing the car seat in the center minimizes the risk of injury during a crash.
Is the passenger or back seat safer? ›In a head-on car crash, it's common to assume that the safest place to be is in the back seat. But, a recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that rear passengers might be in more danger in a head-on car crash than those in the front seat.
Is passenger or driver seat safer? ›
However, a study of frontal crashes conducted in the United States by the Institute of Highway Safety showed that more than half of rear seat passengers were more seriously injured than those in the front.
Which back seat is safest? ›Simply stated, the middle seat is the furthest from impact during a collision, as well as the furthest away from air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all children under the age of 13 ride in the back seat, ideally in the center.
How should you sit on a school bus? ›Sit straight up in the bus seat, the way it is designed with your feet down and your head up. There may be a lack of back support but you can use your pillow or scarf to help you get more comfortable. Curl up to sleep. Recline the bus seat as far as you can and curl up on your side.
What are the danger zones of a bus? ›The danger zones extend as much as 30 feet from the front bumper, 10 feet from the left and right sides of the bus and 12 feet behind the rear bumper of the school bus. In addition, the area to the left of the bus is always considered dangerous because of passing vehicles.
Are buses bumpier in the back? ›Bus rides tend to be a bit bumpier in the back 1/3 of the bus, as opposed to the front and middle. There isn't a huge difference, but it's noticeable - particularly if you're trying to sleep and you're sensitive to movement.
Is a bus safer than a plane? ›The fatalities rate during this past decade so low that even if you fly your during your entire life, you only have 1 out of 1,500 chances of dying. On the other hand, private flights are about 10 times more dangerous than car. Train and bus are similarly safe as commercial flights.
Why is the seat behind the driver the safest? ›The safest place for your car seat is the rear middle seat due to its maximum distance from passenger-side air bags and any potential impact.
What does where you sit on a bus say about you? ›He concluded that those who sat at the front were forward-thinkers, people who chose the middle seats were independent-minded, while the back seats were occupied by rebellious passengers who didn't like their personal space being invaded.
How do you avoid people sitting next to you on a bus? ›"However, avoiding other people actually requires a lot of effort and this is especially true in confined spaces like public transport." Some of these avoidance tactics include placing a bag on the seat next to you, pretending to be busy or sleeping, looking through your bag and avoiding eye contact.
Do and don'ts in bus? ›Don't pack anything smelly
It is imperative to be considerate towards fellow passengers and thus advisable to carry regular chips or cookies that do not have any odour. Another important suggestion is to avoid loud, messy food items like poppadum and pickles. These are not the best food for bus travel.
Where should you sit on a bus without getting sick? ›
Sit Closer to the Front of the Bus
The best place to sit on a bus to avoid motion sickness is the front of the bus, directly behind the driver. The front area of the bus is much more stable, meaning there will be less motion information coming to your brain.
- #1. Choose an Overnight Bus. ...
- #2. Pack Only the Essentials. ...
- #3. Choose the Right Seats. ...
- #4. Wear Comfortable Clothes. ...
- #5. Take Off Your Shoes. ...
- #6. Neck pillow. ...
- #7. Bring an Eye Mask and Earplugs With You. ...
- #8. Stay Hydrated.
Window seats are better for resting
Whether you're in economy or business class, window seats are consistently better if you're trying to rest. In economy, you can rest your head against the wall, which you can't do in the aisle seat.
If it's the only car seat, the safest place to put a forward-facing car seat is on the center seat of the back seat. The same can be said for a rear-facing car seat as well. It's statistically proven that the center seat is the safest place to put a car seat.
Where is the safest place to sit on a minibus? ›Sit towards the middle of the bus
To find the safest seat on a bus, head for the middle. Choose a row as centrally located as possible and sit on the aisle, choosing the side of the bus farthest from opposing traffic. In America, this means sitting on an aisle seat on the right-hand side of the bus.
Position 1: Front Passenger Seat
But, they are safer in the rear, and remember, if you are trying to drive and look after a child at the same time, you will be distracted and more likely to crash. If a baby or child needs to be monitored, for health reasons for example, ask another adult to ride with them in the rear.
Left and right is always based on perspective when sitting in the car, so: Driver side is the left. Passenger side is on the right.
Which seat is most likely to survive a car crash? ›Yet, a recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that the backseat is no longer the safest place to sit. In fact, you are more likely to survive a car crash when sitting in the front seat.
What is the safest way to sit in a car crash? ›The safest position in a car is to sit upright, like you would in a chair. Sit with your feet flat on the floor with your back resting against as much of the seat as possible. Car companies design airbags and other safety features under the assumption that all passengers will sit in an upright position.
Is rear facing safer for adults? ›The best way to protect yourself in a head-on collision is to be seated rear facing.
Should I sit in the back or front of a bus? ›
The safest seat is in the middle, in an aisle seat on the side opposite of oncoming traffic (this depends on country UK/US). The front of the bus is vulnerable in a head-on collision. The rear of the bus is vulnerable in a rear-end collision.
What is the best seat on a Greyhound bus? ›Sit at the front.
You'll have a better chance of having two seats all to yourself, since everyone else will, undoubtedly, be heading towards the back of the bus. Personally, I prefer the front because it makes me feel more safe to be closer to the driver.
In a head-on car crash, it's common to assume that the safest place to be is in the back seat. But, a recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that rear passengers might be in more danger in a head-on car crash than those in the front seat.
How do you sleep comfortably on a Greyhound bus? ›- Invest in a travel pillow and eye mask. ...
- Wear comfortable clothing and pack a blanket. ...
- Bring water and snacks with you on board. ...
- Choose a seat toward the middle of the bus. ...
- Listen to audio with noise-canceling headphones. ...
- Consider taking a sleep aid.
- #1. Choose an Overnight Bus. ...
- #2. Pack Only the Essentials. ...
- #3. Choose the Right Seats. ...
- #4. Wear Comfortable Clothes. ...
- #5. Take Off Your Shoes. ...
- #6. Neck pillow. ...
- #7. Bring an Eye Mask and Earplugs With You. ...
- #8. Stay Hydrated.
The typical position for sleeping on a bus is to sit facing forward and begin by reclining the seat if possible. Use a pillow or item of clothing to support your head as you lean it back or to one side. Try not to slouch and be patient as it takes time to relax.