Safety and Operation of 15-Passenger Vans
The University of Florida adopted a policy whose objective is to reduce the risk of accident and possible injury or death associated with the operation of 15-passenger vans. Risk reduction is achieved through assurance that vans will only be operated by safe and knowledgeable drivers, that vans are in proper and safe working order, and that all passengers use passenger restraint systems when the vehicle is in operation.
Fifteen-Passenger Vans Policy, UFEHS-VAN-09/10/01
Please call Vanessa Fayo at 392-3393 or Lea-An Steiner at 392-1591 for additional information or questions.
Studies conducted by the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration (NHSTA) of the US Department of Transportation reveal that loaded 15-passenger vans have significantly higher risk of rollover than passenger cars and light trucks. Loading the vans raises the center of gravity and shifts it towards the rear, greatly affecting the handling characteristics. When heavily loaded, the steering characteristics and responsiveness are very different from light passenger vehicles. This can cause serious consequences in an emergency situation when an untrained driver expects the vehicle to respond like a car.
Driving large vans requires skill and experience from the operator with little or no margin of error. The vehicles must also be in proper working order to reduce the likelihood of involvement in an accident. The vehicles must receive a formal operational inspection by the operator to demonstrate due diligence. Each vehicle must undergo an annual inspection by a mechanic to ensure hidden defects are identified that could contribute to the risk of vehicle accident.
The requirements and policies to address these concerns were distributed via DDD distribution on September 9, 2001.
Program Elements
License Check and Review: Applicants must complete the Employee Data Sheet and submit it to Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) at PO Box 112190. EH&S will coordinate the license check with the review agency. Drivers with out-of-state licenses shall complete and sign page two of the data sheet. Drivers with three or more moving violations in the three-year review period shall not be permitted to operate 15-passenger vans. EH&S will provide results of the check to the requesting department with a letter stating the outcome of the review. EH&S bears the costs associated with the license check and review.
Training: Drivers
not possessing a commercial driver license must participate in a driver training program approved
by the University.
Additional training may be
required by departments if special skills are required (e.g. pulling a
trailer). Copies of training records must be maintained by the department.
Inspection: Each
vehicle must be included in the annual Safety Inspection performed by the
Physical Plant Division (PPD)
Motor Pool or for non-Alachua County facilities by a local mechanic using PPD
inspection criteria. Fifteen-passenger vans may not be equipped with roof
racks. At a minimum, vans used for long trips (e.g. greater than 100 miles
roundtrip) must receive an operational inspection by the driver before each
trip. The PPD Motor Pool can provide a pre-trip check upon request and
appointment. Vans used primarily on campus/locally must be
inspected each time the vehicle is refueled. The driver should use the
Inspection Log
to document the inspection process.
Operational
Requirements: All vehicle occupants must use seat belts. On long trips the
number of approved drivers should match the expected trip duration to prevent
driver fatigue and inattention. No single driver should drive more than
eight hours in a single day.
Employee Data Sheet - Potential drivers must complete this form and send to EH&S, PO Box 112190 for the mandatory drivers license check.
Inspection Log
to document the vehicle inspection process.
Flyer on 15-Passenger Van Safety - from US DOT - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Van Rear View Mirror Tag - Reminder Tag from DOT - safety information about 15-passenger vans that can be hung from a mirror in the vehicle.
The Rollover Propensity for Fifteen-Passenger Vans - Research Report from US DOT - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Training Information
Training may be fulfilled either through successful completion of a computer-based training program or through participation in a conventional classroom-based course. The computer-based training is available at EH&S, Building 104. The training is offered daily at 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Each training slot is limited to one individual. Please call Vanessa Fayo at 392-3393 or Lea-An Steiner at 392-1591 to schedule an appointment and for directions.