CALABASAS : School Buses Still Lacking Safety Device

A controversial type of safety restraint has not been installed on Las Virgenes school buses as promised, despite an intense lobbying effort by parents that helped win support for the devices last September.

Micho Industries, the manufacturer of the pull-down safety bar, has been unable to renew its patent license to market, build and install the R-Bar restraints, said Michael Dunn, vice president of marketing at the Lompoc-based company.

In a written statement, Dunn said he “would like to thank . . . the concerned parents and school board members in the Las Virgenes district for (their) cooperation, patience and support for this revolutionary safety product.”

Dunn said the company is still attempting to renew its license to install R-Bars.

That hardly mollified parents who believe the seat restraints, similar to those used on roller coasters, could reduce the risk of injury to their children on their way to school or on field trips.

“I’m pretty upset,” said Patty Beth, who helped organize support for installing R-Bars on two buses for a trial period. “This was a year’s worth of work that hopefully won’t go down the drain. We’re hoping some other manufacturer will come along who wants to do this.”

Donald Zimring, assistant superintendent of the Las Virgenes Unified School District, said school officials are still committed to trying the seat restraints.

“We’re still hopeful that this will come through somehow,” Zimring said. “We did a fair amount of work sorting out the insurance issues and things. Maybe we’ll be able to find another company interested in picking it up.”

So far, no move has been made to find another manufacturer, Zimring said.

Last September, the school board agreed to allow Micho Industries to install R-Bars on one or two buses, free, for a three-month trial period.

The decision came after a group of parents lobbied for the installation of R-Bars, despite a lack of evidence supporting claims that the restraints actually increase children’s safety on buses.

Some legislators, including Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, even raised concerns that the bars could trap children in their seats in case of a fire.