According to a recent news release from Transport Canada, seat belts will be mandatory on all newly built medium and large highway buses starting September 1, 2020.

They say seat belts have a strong and proven record of saving lives and are bringing in the new standards and rules to improve safety on Canadian roads.

The idea was first proposed in 2017, but it seems the conversation didn't come back into the forefront until the tragic accident involving the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team, where 16 people were killed and 13 were injured in a collision with a semi.

Transport Canada defines medium and large buses as having a weight over 4,536 kg and said that small buses, with the exception of school buses, already have lap and shoulder belts.

The department said the new requirements will not apply to school buses as they are already designed to protect school children in the event of a crash; however, school bus operators can install them on a voluntary basis as long as they meet Transport Canada’s requirements.