While the price of belted seats installed in school buses has dropped during the past five years, motorcoach operators should not expect to see a price break on belted seats anytime soon, say industry seat suppliers.

George Farrell of Amaya-Astron Seating said increased demand in recent years for belted seats on new motorcoaches has not tipped prices.

Nor does he foresee a decline as the safety feature gains more widespread acceptance in the industry.

In fact, he said, seat manufacturers have begun to raise prices.

One factor contributing to higher prices, Farrell explained, is the added cost of upgrades being made to belted seats that are likely to be passed along to buyers.

"I cant see prices going down because (manufacturers are) trying to engineer the seats to withstand higher G-forces," he said.

In contrast, a leading belted-seat supplier recently reported the price of equipping a school bus with three-point-belted seats has dropped from a range of $12,000 to $14,000 five years ago, to $7,000 to $9,000 currently.

Another factor contributing to the diverging price patterns between school buses equipped with belted seats and motorcoaches is the relative age of the two markets, according to one seating industry executive.

He noted that lap-and-shoulder-belted seating has been installed on school buses for more than decade, "so its a more mature market than the motorcoach market is."

"I think there are a significant number of people (in the motorcoach market) who are buying seats with no belts on them still because its not an actual requirement yet, although it soon will be," he said.

Added Ron Miller, general manager of the Motor Coach Industries Service Center in Loudonville, Ohio: "Thats interesting about the school bus market.

"We haven't seen a similar price drop yet in the seats weve been using to retrofit buses. As more venders start to get in the market, we may see pricing drop.

"I guess the good news for now is there hasnt been a measurable increase in price which should keep belted seats as an attractive option for our customers."