Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 03/01) - Faith Embleton has been lobbying to have children remove their backpacks while riding school buses for two years.

Faith Embleton with her grandson, Levi Jones, 6, who's sporting his Pokemon backpack. Thanks to grandma he won't be wearing it on the school bus anymore. - Michelle DaCruz/NNSL photo

After writing a letter to Yellowknife school boards, Cardinal Bus Lines, the city of Yellowknife and Yellowknifer, officials are listening.

As of April 22 bus drivers were instructed to tell children to remove their backpacks while the vehicle is in motion.

"I wrote the letter because I wanted it on public record. How prepared are they for a lawsuit resulting from a preventable injury?" asked Embleton. "It's about time they do something about it."

Embleton is a grandmother of four children, two who take the bus to school. Before the policy came into effect she instructed Levi, 6, and Shaylynn, 9, to remove their own packs.

In April Embleton was rear-ended while stopped at an intersection. She experienced headaches and vomiting for a year after the collision as a result of a mild form of whiplash. Since then Embleton has been adamant that the bus company enforce better safety measures for children.

"If I had experienced such trauma from a fender bender and I was wearing my seat-belt and sitting flush with the seat, then what would happen if my grandkids school bus got into an accident?" said Embleton.

In her letter she explained the risks associated with wearing backpacks: "If ... the bus has to stop suddenly or is impacted from the rear the depth of the packsack between the student and the seat is great enough that the head and neck are not supported."

Both Levi and Shaylynn's packs are at least seven inches deep, even when half full.

Troy Bowden, area manager for Cardinal Bus Lines, consulted both Yellowknife school boards after receiving Embleton's letter, because he thought her suggestion made sense. The two boards, and Bowden, decided within the same day of the letter's arrival to act on her request.

Mike Huvenaars, assistant superintendent-business for Yellowknife Catholic Schools, said even though there have been no injuries so far, he agreed with Bowden and Steve Richards, director of corporate services for Yellowknife Education District No. 1, that it is a good idea.

"I'm glad they are enforcing this but my only question is why has it taken two years for officials to realize it is dangerous," said Embleton.

But her concern over bus safety is just beginning. Embleton is currently researching the possibility of having the bus company install seat-belts on school buses.

Bowden said at this time there are no plans in the works to install seat-belts.