WASHINGTON D.C. The sudden death of a U.S. congressman may have derailed plans for legislation that could have led to additional passenger protection systems in over-the-road buses.

Rep. Paul Gillmor, an Ohio Republican whose political career covered four decades, had been working closely with motorcoach industry executives so legislation he was planning to introduce in the next few weeks would not be opposed by coach operators. (See June 15 Bus & Motorcoach News.)

The congressman died unexpectedly Sept. 5 at the age of 68, leaving the future of his legislation uncertain.

Gillmor's proposal called for government-funded bus crash tests to examine the worthiness of all types of passenger protection systems and to determine if some type of restraints should be required in motorcoaches.

He became involved in bus safety issues at the urging of parents of Bluffton (Ohio) University baseball players who were involved in a motorcoach accident earlier this year that killed seven people, five of them players, and injured others.

While the parents sought mandatory seat belts, the congressman dug deeper, and, after consulting with the industry, decided to include in his legislation a requirement that other methods of protecting passengers be reviewed as well.

"He could have simply introduced legislation making seat belts mandatory, but, instead, he chose to look at the big picture when it comes to occupant protection and came to understand that none of us can simply prescribe what some might conclude is safer, absent legitimate scientific study" said Ken Presley, vice president of the United Motorcoach Association. "As a result, his proposed legislation was sound public policy."

The resulting legislation would have funded and mandated the crash tests and required research of all types of passenger protection possibilities, including seat belts, passive restraints, window glazing and roof strengthening.

The motorcoach industry has long held that seat belts may not offer the best protection for bus passengers involved in an accident and extensive crash tests and research should be conducted before any decisions are made.

Presley said Gillmor was a decent man who was not out to get publicity, but rather to serve and do what was right.

"In working on motorcoach safety, he could have grabbed a few headlines but chose rather to work towards sensible and scientific solutions," he said. "We can only hope his work will be championed in the future."