Covenant News

Concern Continues Over Safety of 15-Passenger Vans

CHICAGO, IL (September 30, 2002) - Recent reports by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that 15-passenger vans have been shown to have a high propensity for rollover crashes, especially if they are fully loaded.

This summer, a van carrying firefighters in Colorado rolled over and killed five passengers, and a tire blowout on a van carrying cheerleaders caused a rollover accident that eventually claimed two lives. A report by the American Camping Association stated that "many schools still utilize 15-passenger vans by purchasing them used (and) there has been no federal action to ban the use of these vehicles by camps, youth programs, or religious organizations."

Although many churches, schools and other organizations are still using these kinds of vans as a primary vehicle to transport passengers, the warning is being heeded in many areas. The National Traffic and Motor Safety Act prohibits the sale or lease of any new van with a capacity of more than 10 passengers to a school or school district.

Some insurance companies are also changing their policies. The New York Times reported in August that GuideOne, a leading insurer of churches and their vehicles, has stopped selling new policies for 15-passenger vans. The Des Moines, Iowa-based organization said it is continuing coverage on the vans it already insures, but will raise rates 20 to 25 percent and encourage van owners to replace the vans with small school buses.

GuideOne is not the only company with concerns. Two other large church insurers, Church Mutual and Brotherhood Mutual, have issued safety advisories in the face of continued questions about the safety of these vehicles.

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System reported that between 1982 and 1999, there were 581 people killed in 376 crashes involving 15-passenger vans. Even more disturbing was the fact that 280 of those rollover accidents did not involve collision with another vehicle. One possible reason, according to a safetyforum.com report, was that the vans are not equipped to handle quick steering maneuvers in emergency situations when the vehicle is fully loaded.

" . . . Loading a van with people shifts its center of gravity rearward and upward," the report states. "This increased weight on the rear tires makes the van tend to saturate the tires in emergencies and 'fishtail' (a rear end slide that occurs when the maximum lateral friction capacity of the rear tires is reached). A van fishtailing is not under control and has increased likelihood it will overturn. The more heavily loaded, the greater the gravity shift, and thus the higher the likelihood of tragic consequences . . ."

Another possible explanation for the high number of 15-passenger van accidents, according to the report, is that the vehicles are not equipped as adequately as other large passenger vehicles for emergency steering maneuvers. While many large vehicles have dual rear wheels, 15-passenger vans come equipped without dual wheels, providing less traction to safely perform emergency steering maneuvers. And, standards for protecting passengers are not nearly as high for 15-passenger vans. Since 1974, buses have had to meet additional structural standards that expressly address occupant protection . . . by law school buses must have strong steel side beams and thick sheets of steel on both sides of the frame. None of these protections are afforded the occupants of 15-passenger vans. Buses also must have more emergency exits and employ flashing lights or stop signs on the vehicle.

Requirements for driving licenses to operate 15-passenger vans is another matter being re-evaluated. Drivers in the United States can rent large vans for everything from transporting passengers from airports to driving groups to mission trips and toting young adults to sporting events or on music tours without the requirement for special training, although in some states one must have a special license to do so.

More information about 15-passenger van safety is available on the American Camping Association web site at www.ACAcamps.org/publicpolicy. Statistical updates of information used in this report can be found on www.safetyforum.com/passengervans.

(Editor's note: a more detailed van safety article will appear in the November issue of The Covenant Companion.)

Printable version of this page.