February 2001

TP 2436 E
Fact Sheet # RS 2001–02
Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate

Transport Canada is again advising the owners and operators of all school buses concerning a continuing potential hazard to children traveling on school buses while wearing clothing with drawstrings. A child in New Brunswick narrowly escaped serious injury recently when her drawstrings became caught in the handrail of a 1990 "Wayne" school bus.

The knots, loops and toggles on these drawstrings can become caught in the lower portion of the handrail located near the school bus entry / exit door. The fix for this problem is the addition of a spacer at the bottom of the handrail.

A Notice of Defect and a Safety Related Recall was issued by certain school bus manufacturers in 1995. The manufacturer of Wayne school buses went out of business prior to this notice. The purpose of this advisory is to notify the owners of all school buses, and specifically Wayne school buses that some units may not have been modified.

Transport Canada is also reminding parents of school aged children to be aware of this potential problem concerning the drawstrings on their children's clothing.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Transport Canada, Defect Investigations and Recalls at 1 800 333-0510.