> In addition, the high center of gravity is more than compensated for by the total mass of the bus. In regular collisions, the bus is virtually guaranteed to be the heaviest vehicle involved, which carries an inherent measure of protection.

Our daily paper seems to have a lot of school bus wreck pictures. About one out of four shows the bus on it's side. But maybe without compartmentalization and a massive bus, the toll in the Alabama wreck would be higher. They are currently saying three dead.

They have been showing a video from a bus security camera that shows what happens when the bus rolls on it's side. In an instant, the students on the right side of the bus, leave their compartment and slam into the left side. All you see is a wall of feet.

Can I assume that the compartment is a space between two seat backs? I haven't been on a school bus in several years.
Howard