WASHINGTON A Republican congressman from Pennsylvania, Bill Shuster, has introduced bus safety legislation the motorcoach industry appears eager to support.

The House bill calls for a comprehensive National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study to determine what motorcoach safety requirements should be improved and then requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to oversee implementation of the improvements.

The Shuster bill contrasts sharply with legislation that was introduced in the U.S. Senate in November that mandates seatbelts and fire fighting equipment on over-the-road buses, as well as stronger windows and roofs.

That bill would require tougher safety requirements and regulations for the industry without mandating a testing program to develop new safety standards the industry would have to adopt and live by. (See Dec. 1 Bus & Motorcoach News.)

Shuster's legislation was prompted by the late Congressman Paul Gillmor of Ohio who began drafting bus and motorcoach safety legislation last year. (See June 15 Bus & Motorcoach News.)

Gillmor was drawn to the issue after a bus carrying the Bluffton University baseball team was involved in an crash, resulting in the death of seven people. The congressman died, however, before his bill could be introduced. (See Sept. 15 Bus & Motorcoach News.)

"Paul Gillmor was a great representative for the people of Ohio," said Shuster. "I am proud to have been able to pick up where he left off on this important issue."

The motorcoach industrys two associations welcomed Shuster's involvement and taking up Gillmor's sword.

"We are very pleased Rep. Shuster chose to continue the hard work Rep. Gillmor and his staff invested in this critical issue," said UMA Vice President of Industry Relations Ken Presley.

"At the direction of the UMA legislative and regulatory committee, and with board of directors' oversight, the United Motorcoach Association worked closely with Rep. Gillmors office to build consensus with representatives of the American Bus Association, Greyhound and others," said Presley.

"Sometimes it felt like we were dragging some folks along and other times it felt like we were out there all alone. But, in the end, the final bill is a result of industry consensus.

"This is truly the direction legislators and regulators will ultimately choose as (the bill) directs officials to make sound public policy based on sound science. We look forward to working with Rep. Shuster and his staff moving this bill through the legislative process."

In a statement, the ABA struck a similar tone.

"We welcome Congressman Shuster's bill because it calls for the most sweeping research and data collection in motorcoach industry history," said ABA President and CEO Peter J. Pantuso.

"Much of the data to guide engineers on occupant protection issues and many other safety issues simply doesn't yet exist. This bill will ensure that the research needed to guide policymakers is conducted, and that sound science rather than politics shapes government safety policies."

Key provisions of Shuster's bill include a stipulation that 30 months after the USDOT and the NHTSA conclude their industry safety studies:

The agencies shall prescribe federal standards for a motorcoach occupant protection system that accounts for frontal impact collisions, side impact collisions, rear collisions and rollovers.

The secretary of transportation shall provide standards for: roof strength, window glazing, ways to prevent fires on motorcoaches, and ways to improve emergency evacuation.

The bill allows for the retrofitting of equipment to meet safety requirements that are issued by NHTSA. This will allow the industry to adjust to the new regulations as it updates its fleet.

Shuster is a four-term Congressman who is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.