The use of 15-passenger vans to transport student-athletes to and from sporting events is not new, nor is the concern that these vehicles may have safety problems if loaded improperly or operated by an inexperienced driver.

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a safety alert, however, to organizations that use these vehicles as a reminder of how to lessen the possibility of an accident.

The group recently concluded an investigation into two fatal accidents involving 15-passenger vans (neither involving student-athletes), both of which involved tire failure, drivers losing control and ultimately a rollover of the van. This investigation has led to the board formulating suggestions on how to make travel in 15-passenger vans safer.

Among the NTSB's recommendations are:

Keep seat belts and lap belts accessible and make sure passengers use them.

Inspect seat belts and lap belts and replace missing buckles, as well as broken and worn belts.

Regularly check the condition of tires for uneven wear, cracks and damage. Many of these vans are not continuously driven like the family car, but low mileage doesn't mean tires are safe. Age, sunlight and just being parked for long periods of time can lead to tire degradation and dry rot.

Check the tire pressure often and make sure it conforms to the van and tire manufacturer's standards. Be aware that front and back tires may require different inflation pressures.

Make all van drivers aware that the dynamics of vans, especially during an emergency, such as a tire blowout, are different from a car.

Get additional training for drivers since vans handle differently than other vehicles, especially when fully loaded.

"We are urging all organizations, from church groups, to schools to nonprofit and public-interest organizations, to learn that driving and maintaining 15-passenger vans is not the same as the average family car, and that it is critical that seat belts be used," said NTSB Chair Ellen G. Engleman.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's (NHTSA) September 2003 "Action Plan for 15-Passenger Van Safety," there were about 500,000 registered 15-passenger vans in 2001, an increase of more than 280 percent since 1990.

Between 1990 and 2001, the NHTSA reported 1,441 15-passenger vans were involved in fatal crashes that resulted in 1,003 fatalities. A total of 601 of the crashes were single-vehicle crashes, of which 316 rolled over. In 2001 alone, the latest year for which figures were available from the NHTSA, 130 occupants of 15-passenger vans died in crashes involving these vehicles. Single-vehicle crashes represented 42 percent of fatal crashes, the NHTSA reported.

"Fifteen-passenger vans, which make up about .25 percent of the passenger vehicle fleet, are frequently used to transport school sports teams, van pools, church groups and other groups," the NTSB said in a safety report on the issue. "Although they are involved in a proportionate number of fatal accidents compared to their percentage in the fleet, they are involved in a higher rate of single-vehicle accidents involving rollovers than are other passenger vehicles."

The NTSB does not investigate every accident involving 15-passenger vans, as it does with aviation accidents, said Pat Cariseo, a safety transportation specialist with the board. But its investigators throughout the country noticed many common elements in accidents involving these vans, and that led to the safety recommendations, he said.

There have been numerous instances where student-athletes have been injured and even killed in accidents involving 15-passenger vans. One of the more serious incidents occurred in February 2000. A 15-passenger van carrying a track coach, athletic trainer and eight student-athletes from Prairie View A&M University rolled when the driver tried to avoid an accident. The crash resulted in fatal injuries to the driver and three of the five ejected passengers. The remaining six passengers were seriously injured.

Despite some universities and colleges now requiring training for drivers, some student-athletes still feel their safety is in jeopardy when they ride in 15-passenger vans.

At the Division II Management Council and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee meeting in July, several athletes expressed concern about this common mode of transportation for student-athletes.

"As a senior, I was required to drive a van to and from competition," said one student-athlete. "It wasn't uncommon to drive six hours to and from games."