College and university athletics departments use a variety of transportation modes to service their travel needs. The use of 12- and 15-passenger vans and sport-utility vehicles continues to be a mode of transportation, especially for teams traveling with smaller numbers of passengers.

Safe transportation of student-athletes may be an oft-neglected risk-management issue facing college athletics administrators. Even when an event is properly organized and managed, an accident can immediately turn the trip into a disaster. Sadly, too many NCAA institutions have been involved in team-related van accidents. In a recent nonsports-related van accident, a 15-passenger van rollover killed two young Utah State University students on a debate trip.

In college athletics, van use is a safety concern for athletics administrators, particularly at the small-college levels. In the April 15, 2002, NCAA News, a study regarding Division III athletics administrators reported 80 percent continue to use 15-passenger vans, and 100 percent mentioned they use either 12- or 15-passenger vans for team travel. In a 2005 study, athletics directors at National Junior College Athletic Association and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics athletics departments responded similarly (80 percent use 15-passenger vans).

Among the findings in the 2005 college athletics transportation study:

* Only 11 percent allow nine or fewer passengers in 15-passenger vans. (The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 15-passenger vans with 10 or more occupants had a rollover rate in single-vehicle crashes that is nearly three times the rate of those that were lightly loaded with fewer than five occupants.)

* 50 percent of two- and four-year colleges continue to use student drivers. (In many team-related van rollover accidents, students were driving the vehicles at the time of accidents. They simply lack the experience and training needed for proper van usage.)

* 38 percent of athletics administrators said they do not place any van travel restrictions during inclement weather.

* The number of passengers (28 percent) followed by budget (19 percent) dictated which transportation mode to employ.

* Head or assistant coaches were the return drivers in 68 percent of institutions.

* 23 percent lease vans from a rental company.

* 14 percent use only buses for all sports.

* 8 percent do not allow personal vehicles for sports-related travel.

Schools usually will retain risk if using school-owned vans. In a Louisiana case, a van accident in which a student driver who did not possess a chauffeur's license was unable to control the van after one of its tires blew. The van rolled three times, ejecting several of the baseball team's 13 members. The students filed suit against the driver, the college, the state, and boards connected to the college. An appellate court found the college had duties to properly maintain vehicles (the tire was found to be under-inflated), select qualified drivers, properly train its drivers, and that it had failed to properly operate the vehicle. The plaintiffs were awarded amounts ranging from $25,000 to $1.6 million.

In the wake of dozens of team-related van accidents in past years, administrators are seeking advice from their colleagues. Athletics departments, in lieu of the risky 15-passenger vehicles, are purchasing 20-plus-seat passenger buses or mini-buses. These mimic larger coach buses but frequently are half the price of a used motor coach.

Mini-buses are being used in 33 percent of small college athletics, according to the 2004 study. More school administrators are encouraged to strongly consider purchasing or leasing a minibus to serve the sports that historically have traveled in 15-passenger vans. Athletics departments could benefit from transporting their athletes in mini-buses without greatly compromising budget or safety. They are frequently less expensive to lease than are buses.

National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommendations include:

• Do not transport 10 or more passengers in a 15-passenger van (the risk is three times as great when more than nine passengers travel).

• 15-passenger vans have a rollover risk when the van is fully loaded five times greater than when the van contains only a driver.

• The risk of rollover increased significantly at speeds over 50 miles an hour and on curved roads.

• Most youths are not qualified and experienced to drive 15-passenger vans.

• Check tire pressure regularly (monthly).

A recent NHTSA study found that 74 percent of all 15-passenger vans had significantly mis-inflated tires. The NHTSA research consistently has shown that improperly inflated tires can change handling characteristics, increasing the prospect of a rollover crash in 15-passenger vans. Additionally, van passengers who wear seat belts are 75 percent less likely to be killed in a rollover. The NHTSA has the authority to regulate the first sale or lease of a new vehicle by a dealer. Federal law prohibits the sale of 15-passenger vans for school-related transport of high school age or younger students, but still no current legislation exists for college age students or other adult passengers.

The following are the most common cited recommendations by college/university athletics directors for the improvement of safe student transportation in the future:

1. Eliminate 15-passenger vans to transport students;

2. Travel more frequently by bus (especially for longer distances);

3. Eliminate coaches driving any vehicles;

4. Enforce stricter driver qualifications (for example, prohibit students from driving during team travel, and require video and written driver training before travel);

5. Increase use of mini-buses;

6. Limit the number of passengers for 15-passenger van travel (fewer than 10);

7. Take the rear seats out of 15-passenger vans (allow two drivers to go on van trips, in cases of driver fatigue or emergencies);

8. Place passengers and equipment forward of the van's rear axle;

9. Limit the number of hours or mileage to be driven per day for each van (recommended 300 miles or five hours per day);

10. Avoid travel between midnight and 6 a.m.

As the winter sports season approaches, administrators are strongly encouraged to revisit their team transportation policies to make sure they reflect transportation research from the NHTSA as well as other transportation policy studies. Additionally, van travel during the winter months can pose greater risk and liability to schools. It would be prudent to impose travel restrictions when teams are faced with traveling in inclement weather. Allow teams to stay the night if necessary. If possible, contract the department's team travel needs with independent travel services -- liability is transferred to a third party.

Since almost 500,000 student-athletes and staff travel each year in the U.S., team travel policies should be reviewed frequently to help increase passenger safety and decrease liability.

David LaVetter is an assistant professor in sport management at Arkansas State University. His dissertation researched transportation practices in college and university athletics departments.

Effects of passenger load on van accidents

A National Highway Transportation Safety Administration study shows that the likelihood of van crashes resulting in a rollover grows as the number of passengers in the vehicle increases.