The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reissued an advisory warning, alerting consumers to an increased rollover risk of 15-passenger vans. The University frequently uses the vans to transport athletes and volunteers.
Last summer, there were several rollover crashes involving religious groups on trips, according to the NHTSA report on the "Propensity of Rollover for 15-Person Vans." Rollover crashes involving 15-passenger vans loaded with college students were often driven by fellow students rather than professional drivers.
The study reported a 30-percent chance for van rollover while transporting at full capacity.
The Student Volunteers Council rents several such vans for its annual Community Action orientation program.
Until last semester, the Outdoor Action program used two 15-passenger vans, OA director Rick Curtis '79 said.
For University students to drive the vans, they must obtain a special certification, which requires both a written and behind-the-wheel test administered by Public Safety.
"The only time we use 15-passenger vans is for the CA program," SVC coordinator Carey Hoover said. "I've been here seven years, and there have been no accidents involving any kind of injury [with the vans], except for a few fender-benders and scratches." The SVC also requires students to undergo the driving proficiency tests to operate the minivans, owned by SVC and used on a regular basis.
The current safety procedures are effective for preventing dangerous incidents, Hoover said, though the course for the test is administered by Public Safety on campus, not on city streets or highways.
"Students do not take long trips in these vans," she said. "They are on campus for most of the program. The farthest students will drive these vans is 45 minutes away to one of our sites."
When using the 15-passenger vans, the OA program has had five minor accidents in the last five years. Curtis attributed these accidents to winter weather conditions.
The report from the NHTSA would not change the transport options for CA and SVC. "For the SVC, it is not an issue," Hoover said.
OA switched to minivans because budget cuts in the program prevented them the replacement of old 15-passenger vans, Curtis said.
Until 18 months ago, the University's club sports teams used 15-person vans, said Christine McCarthy, coordinator of intramurals and club sports.
Additional funding from the University's risk management committee allowed club teams to rent buses, depending on the size of the group, and minivans for traveling to other schools.
Though 15-passenger vans are reportedly dangerous, the vehicle is a convenient and attractive option for club teams with limited budgets.
Members of the cycling team, for example, said they prefer using one 15-passenger van to renting two minivans weekly.
"We tried to get a 15-person van, but the University won't let us use them," cycling team member Jason Houck '03 said.
The team must rent two minivans to transport 15 to 20 athletes and all of the bicycles and equipment, costing the team about $200 for the weekend.
"It would be more convenient travelwise if we could just take one car," said Houck, who has driven the 15-passenger van and does not find the vehicle dangerous.
After driving it for a few minutes, he said, he usually feels comfortable driving safely.
"We are all required to take a van certification test," he said. "If the University certifies us, we should be able to use the van."
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