ACYF Administration on Children, Youth and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families
	1. Log No. ACYF-HS-IM-99-07	2. Issuance Date: 06/11/99
	3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau
	4. Key Word: Child Safety Restraints (in vehicles); Transportation

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM [See Attachments at the bottom]

TO: Head Start Grantee and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: New NHTSA "Guideline for the Use of Child Safety Restraint Systems in The Safe Transportation of Preschool Age Children in School Buses".

INFORMATION: An increasing number of pre-school age children are being transported to and from early childhood development programs, including Head Start and Early Head Start. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the Federal Agency responsible for assessing and improving the safety of transportation. In February 1999, NHTSA issued the "Guideline for the Safe Transportation of Pre-School Age Children in School Buses".

NHTSA recently conducted tests to determine the safest method to transport pre-school children on school buses. The use of seat belts, child safety seats, and available spacing between bus seats were considered. Based on the results, NHTSA determined that pre-school children traveling on school buses are best protected when seated in age and weight appropriate child safety restraint systems. Specific recommendations are as follows:

• Each child should be transported in a Child Safety Restraint System (suitable for the child's weight and age) that meets applicable Federal Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
• Each child should be properly secured in the Child Safety Restraint System.
• The Child Safety Restraint System should be properly secured to the School bus seat, using anchorages that meet FMVSS.

The entire "Guideline for the Safe Transportation of Pre-School Age Children in School Buses" is enclosed. It contains additional information regarding safety recommendations. Additionally, we enclosed NHTSA's publication titled "School Bus Safety: Safe Passage for America's Children." The second document specifies the history and research findings of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards required for school buses.

/S/
Helen H. Taylor
Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau

CC:Regional Administrators, ACF
American Indian and Migrant Programs Branches

Attachments:
Attachment 1
Attachment 2