On April 15th, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reissued a cautionary warning to users of fifteen-passenger vans. The agency notified consumers of an increased rollover risk under certain conditions. A similar warning was issued in May of 2001, when the NHTSA warned motorists that 15-passenger vans with ten or more occupants are three times as likely to roll over in crashes than 15-passenger vans that are lightly loaded.

Despite the agency’s efforts last year to warn the public about the vehicles’ handling characteristics, accidents involving 15-passenger vans have continued. Most recently in April 2002, a 15-passenger van carrying day-care clients drifted off a Memphis interstate into a highway overpass, killing four young passengers. While alleged drug usage by the driver appears to be an issue in this accident, public and media focus on the use of these large vans is intense.

Federal Regulations

While the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act prohibits the sale or lease of any new vehicle with a capacity of more than 10 to a school or school district, many schools still utilize 15-passenger vans by purchasing them used. There has been no federal action to ban the use of these vans by camps, youth programs, or religious organizations.

However, some states have taken action against the use of 15-passenger vans for commercial or interstate transportation of children. Camps should check with the Department of Transportation in their state, or in states through which they must travel, to ascertain current regulations.

Safety Conditions

Automobile experts claim vans have suspensions that raise them high above the road, and as a result, they have a very high center of gravity. In addition, many 15-passenger vans are on the same wheelbase as 12-passenger vans. This combination creates a vehicle that does not handle as well as a car and can be unsafe in certain conditions, particularly with an inexperienced driver. Because of these characteristics, in-vehicle training, which includes driving the vehicle both loaded and unloaded, is essential for drivers of these vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is investigating the Memphis accident, has urged states to stop schools from using 15-passenger vans. In an effort to prevent deaths and injuries during this summer’s heavy driving season, the head of the NHTSA recently held a news conference to remind people that vans should be operated only by trained and experienced drivers. The NHTSA also encourages all van occupants to wear seat belts. These recommendations were further underscored by a 60 Minutes II exposé on vans, which aired on CBS April 2002.

Pending Action

Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) would like to take additional action to ensure restricted use of 15-passenger vans, its jurisdiction is limited, thus encouraging states to review the vehicles’ use. In addition to issuing a consumer advisory, the NHTSA is considering guidelines to require the vans to pass more-stringent rollover tests, which NHTSA is currently working to devise.

Congress is considering H.R. 3296, introduced by Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), a bill regarding the use of nonconforming vans in public schools. H.R. 3296 would prohibit the purchase, rent, or lease, of a vehicle for use as a school bus that does not comply with the motor vehicle safety standards that currently apply to school buses. The legislation would essentially close the loophole allowing schools to purchase used vehicles. In Udall’s proposal, a “school bus” is defined as any vehicle that transports more than eleven students. If passed, H.R. 3296 would ensure that all 15-passenger vans used to transport students pass a national safety test. The proposed legislation was referred to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection in late December 2001, although a hearing has not yet been scheduled.

At a local level, 29 states have taken action by ruling school districts cannot use nonconforming buses to transport children, and most other states have legislation pending. In addition, in Colorado, the largest insurer for public schools will stop covering 15-passenger vans purchased after June, and is gradually phasing out coverage of these vans over the next five years.

What Should Camps Do?

The American Camping Association strongly encourages its members to fully evaluate transportation programs. While it may be unreasonable to immediately replace 15-passenger vans now in use, all camps can take steps toward risk reduction. Such steps may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Require adequate in-vehicle training for drivers of 15-passenger vans including opportunity to drive the vehicle both partially and fully loaded;
• Plan to use experienced drivers rather than rotating driving responsibilities among many staff;
• Limit the amount of weight placed in the vehicle and place weight as far forward in the vehicle as possible;
• Remember that the risk of rollover increases dramatically as the number of occupants increases from fewer than five to more than ten;
• Never exceed fifteen passengers in these vehicles;
• Always require seat belts to ensure camper safety (Eighty percent of those who died in van rollovers were not wearing seat belts!)
• Remember that the risk of a rollover crash is greatly increased when load is placed on the roof of the van.

Driver Tips

• Drivers must maintain a safe speed, and should be well-rested.
• Drivers must be especially cautious on curved roads and must maintain safe speeds to avoid running off the road.
• Train drivers in emergency maneuvers. For example, if the van’s wheels drop off the roadway, gradually reduce speed and steer back onto the roadway when it is safe to do so. Avoid sudden turns of the wheel.
• Make sure the van’s tires are properly inflated and the tread is not worn down.
• When the van is not full, require passengers to sit in seats that are in front of the rear axle.
• Remember that these longer, wider vehicles do not respond as well to abrupt steering maneuvers and require additional braking time.

ACA is collecting additional data on the van issue and on the availability of driver training programs camps can access. Check ACA’s Web site for updates: www.ACAcamps.org/publicpolicy. In the meantime, we urge camps to develop key messages about camp safety in transportation and share them with parents. If you haven’t already done so, establish a five-year plan for transportation that will address vehicle use, driver training, and risk reduction to provide the safest possible transportation for campers and staff.

Originally published in the 2002 Spring issue of The CampLine.