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8 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, September 9, 1986 Opinions differon mandatory belts A serious accident involving a schoo! bus and a gravel truck August 28 on the Brock Road near the entrance to the Pleasure Valley Amusement Park has prompted calls for mandatory seat belts in school buses. But two Scugog Township school bus drivers with perfect records and nearly 30 years bus driving ex- perience between them say there are pros and cons to the issue. Betty Ann Freeman and Bonnie Bell who work for Scugog Transit (formerly Freeman Bus Lines) were presented with engraved pla- ques last Friday morning for ten years driving without an accident. Betty Ann has been driving for 14 years and Bonnie for 12, carrying kids from Scugog Island to elemen- tary and high schools in Port Perry. The plaques were presented to them by George Freeman who started the company and Méke Freeman who has recently purchas- ed it. The two drivers were asked if they would like seat belts used in school buses. "I think there would have to be another n on the bus to ensure that the kids are buckled up,' said Bonnie, adding that it would be helpful if the driver had some way of releasing all buckles from the driver's seat. George Freeman noted that New York State this year has im- plemented seat belts in school buses for school buses and other jurisdictions, including Ontario, will be monitoring this carefully. He said he suspects that Ontario eventually will adopt some kind of seat belt use in school buses. But he also feels there are good and bad points to seat belt use in buses. Referring to the Brock Road accident in which a fully loaded gravel truck plowed into the rear side of a bus loaded with day camp children, he said that if the kids sit- ting at the impact point had been strapped in, they might have been crushed in their seats. Instead, the impact threw them out of their seats. Fortunately in that accident, there were no fatalities. More than 20 of the children needed hospital treatment for cuts and bruises, but only three were seriously hurt. The injured children were treated at Uxbridge Cottage Hospital and medical staff there have come to the conclusion that many, if not all, the injured kids would not have been hurt had they been wearing seat belts. "Basically, they (the children) were banged up from the impact," said Hospital administrator Rene Krizanc. "Otherwise, they would not have been injured. They would have stayed in their seats.' A campaign to get the provincial government to bring in school bus seat belt legislation has been started by Dr. Ian Taylor, Chief of Medical Staff at the Uxbridge Hospital. Safe Driving Awards Bonnie Bell (right) and Betty Ann Freeman presentations were company founder George have both worked for Scugog Transit as school Freeman and present owner Mike Freeman. bus drivers for more than a decade and last week When asked what they thought of mandatory use the company presented them with plaques for of seat belts in school buses, they said there are ten years of accident-free driving. Making the pros and cons of both sides (see story). CHESTERFIELD SUITES - LOVE SEATS SECTIONALS - MATTRESSES -- A Large Selection -- LESS THAN _ @e Dennis J. Hogan ann Hearing Hearing Aiu Aid Centre Consultant ¢f Port Perry Dr. E. Mueller's Office - 24 Water St. S., ~ Plaza, Port Perry, Ontario LOB 1NO 985-3003 985-9192 MCKEEN FURNITURE 524 Simcoe St. S.;, Oshawa - 725-5181 RON'S SPECIAL] Take advantage of a FREE* gasket with each tune-up. 4 cyl. $ 36°5 P.C.V. valve, fuel filter and NG ©iese} 3 fuel injected engines NOT included.) See us for a Fall Tune-Up by GM Trained Technicians using Genuine GM Parts. Special Fall Prices Now! $ 4995 FOR GENUINE GENERAL MOTORS QUALITY ENGINEERED PARTS PHILP PONTIAC BUICK LTD. 10 Vanedward Drive, Port Perry -- Get the kind of GM Performance your car was designed for 6 cyl. $§7795 985-8474 ® ECONOMY. © STANDARD/FULL SIZE @ LOW RATES ® COMPACT e@ LONG TERM LEASING + PHILP PONTIAC BUICK LIMITED 10 VANEDWARD DRIVE, PORT PERRY - 985-8474 HOURS: Mon-Thur till 9 " Friday till 5:30 HOURS: Oo Mon-Thur till 9 Friday till 5:30 Saturday till 4 PORT PERRY WINDOWS & DOORS * Double Hung Tilt Windows Sealed Thermal Units Patio Doors Patio Storm Doors And Much More : Casement Windows icture Windows 8 cyl. oki * Awning Windows ries in ) Storm Windows ioc until : Storm Doors t * * Guaranteed Service Guaranteed GM Parts Guaranteed Price FREE ESTIMATES Glass & Screen Repairs -- Insurance Work -- "WAYNE HUTCHINSON PHONE 985-8724 ok Ne rn EE i SEIN Gnd 5 $43 Saturday till 4 SERVICE & INSTALLATION & | { y