A van full of student-athletes is on its way to a game a few hours away. Some student-athletes have their headphones on listening to music while others struggle to get in a somewhat comfortable position to study. Others are stretched across the seat trying to catch up on their sleep. This scenario seems perfectly fine until the driver quickly maneuvers to avoid something in the road, and the van flips over. Not only are equipment, books and bags tossed about, but also the van's passengers.

Why? Because they were not wearing their seat belts.

The use of 15-passenger vans is common practice for small athletics teams across the country. For some athletics departments, this seems like a logical way to transport athletes, because it is more economic than using a charter bus. But is this really the better option?

Although 15-passenger vans may prove to be more cost efficient, they may not be the safest option. According to government statistics, more than 400 people have been killed and hundreds injured in rollover crashes involving large vans since 1990. Extensive studies have shown that two major concerns of these vehicles are their high rate of rollovers and the design of the vans.

Loading a 15-passenger van causes the center of gravity to shift rearward and upward. This increases the likelihood of rollover and the loss of control during panic maneuvers. Studies have shown that these vans are unsafe if more than 10 people occupy them. In addition to human cargo, these vans are loaded with more than just passengers when athletics teams travel. Equipment, sports bags and backpacks with heavy textbooks can add significant weight to the van's load.

Current 15-passenger vans were not originally designed to transport people. They were designed for businesses to haul cargo and make deliveries.

Therefore, they were not constructed with side-bar protection in the area behind the driver. This mode of transportation quickly became popular with schools after windows and seats were added in the back. But the design of the vehicle remained virtually the same.

Collegiate athletics teams frequently use 15-passenger vans as a mode of transportation to and from competitions and practices. Presently, federal law prohibits the sale of these vans for school-related transport of students in high school or below. There is no comparable law in place that applies to college students. Unfortunately, several accidents involving collegiate student-athletes riding in 15-passenger vans have occurred. Five such incidences occurred within a three-month period in 2000. Those accidents alone killed six people and injured 37 others.

There are various solutions that can be implemented to make travel safer for student-athletes. The most important of these is forming and enacting a solid transportation policy. Stephanie Faul, communications director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said, "If institutions did three things -- require seat belts, require the driver to be well-rested, and require all driving to be done during the day and never from midnight to 6 a.m. -- that would prevent most of the problems."

Some incidents occurred because student-athletes were behind the wheel. Several of these could have been prevented if the drivers were properly trained and of a certain age. Not only may these drivers not be trained to handle this particular vehicle, but they also may be on the road immediately after exhausting competitions. Another scenario may involve coaches driving after a game when they are exhausted or preoccupied with the game's outcome. This is unsafe, because drivers should always be well-rested and focused on their task.

In most cases, finalizing a transportation plan would primarily be done by administrators. So, what can every student-athlete do to make travel safer? Wear their seat belt. It may sound simple, but this could mean the difference between life and death. National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration studies even state that people who wear seat belts are 75 percent less likely to be killed in a rollover crash than people who do not. In addition to wearing their seat belts, student-athletes should actively encourage teammates, coaches and other athletics personnel to buckle-up at all times.

In addition to formulating a transportation policy, there is the option of selecting alternate modes of transportation. Among the many alternatives to 15-passenger vans is the small bus. This vehicle can accommodate 14 passengers and a driver. Overall, it is safer and more comfortable than a van. Small buses are not impervious to accidents, but the fact that they are more durable, wider, and offer a more stable wheelbase distinguish them as a much safer alternative.

Travel safety of collegiate student-athletes should consistently be a concern, as opposed to only being discussed briefly after a tragedy has occurred. Enacting policies now may be the key to preventing accidents in the future and saving someone's life.

Maya Valerie is a volleyball student-athlete at Southern University, Baton Rouge.