TORONTO The Canadian motorcoach industry has decided to work with the Canadian government to develop standards for seatbelts in motorcoaches.

The industrys leading spokesman, Brian Crow, president and CEO of Motor Coach Canada and the Ontario Motor Coach Association, said more and more Canadian passengers are requesting seatbelts in coaches.

"Whats driving this is consumer demand," he said.

The industry plans to work with Transport Canada, the federal agency that sets vehicle safety standards, to conduct bus crash tests this summer that will be specifically designed to develop seatbelt standards. The tests are not expected to address other coach-related safety issues such as roof or window strength.

Crow reports that a number of Canadian motorcoach operators already have begun retrofitting their buses with seatbelts because of passenger demand. They are doing this despite the absence of standards.

And at least one Canadian operator reportedly purchased new Setra coaches because it could get factory installed seatbelts.

Other factors thought to be influencing Canadian operators to take action:

A major oil company in Calgary no longer will charter coaches to take its workers to the oil fields in Alberta unless the buses have seatbelts.

There have been reports that at least one large European-based tour company will not allow its customers to sit in the first or second rows of belt-less coaches it charters. "Think of the message that sends," said Crow.

Both Europe and Australia, which have long historical ties with Canada, have seatbelt requirements and standards.

In fact, European standards could serve as a model for Canada given that three of the four leading coach suppliers in Canada Prevost, Van Hool and Setra, are European-owned or -affiliated companies. The fourth manufacturer, Motor Coach Industries, is based in the U.S., but has its largest plant in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Crow said all four coach builders, plus Canadas three largest coach operators (Pacific Western Transportation, Greyhound Canada and Coach Canada), are working with Motor Coach Canada on its initiative with Transport Canada.

In anticipation of the eventual development of seatbelt standards, Motor Coach Canada is researching provincial laws and regulations covering seatbelts and their use.

For example, Ontario has a law, designed for autos and vans, that makes the driver responsible for assuring that all passengers under the age 16 are wearing a seatbelt when the vehicle is moving.

The Ontario Motor Coach Association will attempt to get the requirement changed, making passengers responsible for wearing seatbelts.

From time to time during the past 30+ years, Transport Canada has considered the issue of seatbelts in motorcoaches. About 10 years ago, for example, the agency conducted an internal review of bus safety issues, which was expanded to include stakeholder consultations.

At the time, Transport Canada concluded that seatbelts "would be of potential benefit in only a very few cases. They would need management by bus operators and reliable use by passengers to achieve effectiveness. The benefit is too uncertain to impose seatbelts without a clear demand for a standard from the public and the motor carrier industry."

The agency went on to say that the cost of seatbelt installation is almost certainly a minor factor compared with the cost of a new bus. But it noted that the true cost of seatbelts also includes maintenance in good and clean operating condition, and a program to ensure proper use by passengers. "The last two require commitment by the operator supported by government enforcement."