University 15-passenger vans discontinued

In an effort to reduce the risk of accidents in university-owned vehicles, Utah State University permanently discontinued the use of 12- and 15-passenger vans Thursday, except for cargo-carrying vehicles.

Within the next few months, the university will receive at least three 15-passenger buses with dual-rear wheels in place of the full-size vans. They will be available through the USU Motor Pool, said John DeVilbiss, USU Public Relations and Marketing executive director.

“We want to reduce as many risks as we can to drivers and passengers of university vehicles,” he said.

The process of the new policy change began after eight USU students and one instructor died in a 15-passenger van accident Sept. 26, 2005. Following the accident, all university-owned 15-passenger vans were grounded. University officials began reviewing transportation possibilities other than the vans.

“We recognize that this change in policy has a significant impact across the university,” said Glenn Ford, vice president of business and finance. “We have spent many hours in consultation with university personnel concerning the direction we should go.”

The new buses are comparable to the construction of school buses, with additional stability and dual rear wheels, said Dave Cowley, executive director of administration.

The 50 full-size vans that USU owned at the time of the accident will be sold to help provide funding for replacement vehicles.

“We know because they’re more expensive, we won’t be able to replace them one for one but we’ll buy as many as we can,” Cowley said.

Generally, a normal 15-passenger van is about $22,000 as compared to a 15-passenger, which is about $45,000, DeVilbiss said. Because of the increased costs, the university will rent buses to departments for about $50 – $55 – almost $10 more than the previous vans were rented for.

“It is inconvenient for some and can cost some additional dollars, but people understand that what we’re trying to do is reduce the risk,” DeVilbiss said.

Jennifer Nielson, a sophomore majoring in psychology, has been on several road trips in 15-passenger vans while she was in high school and said at times she could feel the van shifting when it was windy outside.

“I don’t think they’re safe,” she said. “I’ve always thought there was a safer way to travel.”

The revised policy still permits university departments to own or lease vehicles that carry seven passengers or fewer. All employees who drive a university vehicle will be required to complete an approved driver safety program every three years.

  The revised policy continues to require drivers to abide by a strict vehicle operation standard, including the wearing of seatbelts, brief rests every two hours of driving, vehicle familiarity and condition awareness and restrictions on driving during the middle of the night, according to a USU press release.

“I think that’s good that the university is watching out for our safety,” said Jesse Calder, a sophomore majoring in English teaching.

The policy does make two exceptions to the use of 12- or 15-passenger vans.

First, when the point of origin is away from campus, for example, in the event that a university group requires transportation from an airport and “no other suitable transportation is available.”

To do this, however, it will require the approval of a dean, vice president or the athletic director.

The driver would also have to meet the certification requirements of a vehicle that size and could not transport more than nine passengers at a time, according to the press release.

  The second exception involves transportation provided by a hosting organization using 12- or 15-passenger vans, such as airport shuttles.

In this case, university employees may accept the transportation or arrange alternate transportation at their own discretion.

For further questions regarding the policy, visit www.usu.edu/ust/pdf/Vehicle_Use_Policy.pdf.

-mmackay@cc.usu.edu