Below are answers to the most common questions asked about using car seats in 15-passenger vans and buses. Correctly buckling up children in 15-passenger vans and buses is not always straightforward. Due to the complexity of these vehicles, it is recommended that organizations meet with a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to discuss compliance with the law and best practice recommendations.
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Yes, all occupants of 15-passenger vans should be correctly restrained in accordance with the NC CPS Law or Seat Belt Law. This means that organizations using vans to transport children (including day care centers, summer camps, churches, and school systems) must ensure that all children are correctly restrained when riding in these vehicles.
Some 15-passenger vans do not have lap/shoulder seat belts in all seats. Careful consideration of the ages and sizes of the children being transported is necessary to make sure everyone is correctly restrained.
The rules for buses depend on the size of the bus. Large buses including those used for school transportation as well as municipal transit and charter buses are not required to have seat belts and are therefore exempt from the NC CPS Law.
Small buses are different and generally require seat belts in all positions. Passengers riding in these smaller buses must comply with NC law.
Some buses are equipped with seat belts and/or built in harnesses. This equipment should always be used according to the manufacturer instructions. Consult the bus manufacturer for more information about these restraints.
