15 passenger Vans

My job requires me to travel a lot up and down the East Coast.  As I drive the highways and byways I pass 100's of churches.  One of the things that grabs my attention when I pass a church parking lot is how many 15 passenger vans I still see parked there.  To me it is unbelievable that churches today are still using these death traps on wheels.  With all of the data and research on how dangerous these vehicles are, I can't believe that they haven't been outlawed by the government.  Most insurance companies will not insure 15 passenger vans unless certain things are done to make them safer.  If your church is still using 15 passenger vans to transport children and youth, you should contact your insurance company to ensure that you are in compliance with your policy.  If you are not and an accident happens, the church will be wholly liable for any damages or loss of life because of these vehicles.

Here are some sobering statistics:
From February 1982 through 2007, there were 698 fatal rollovers involving 15 passenger vans.  These crashes killed 1,107 people and injured an additional 1,899.  5855 people were involved in a fatal rollover as a driver or passenger in the vans.   Because the victims were relatively young, 37,496 premature years of life (before age 70) have been lost in rollover accidents of 15 passenger vans since 1982.


Most insurance companies require training for anyone who will drive the vans and all drivers must be over 25.  They may also require that the rear seat be removed and that no more than 9 passengers be allowed in the van. They may also require a sway bar to be installed to make the vehicle more stable.  There are many more requirements that your insurance company may have, so you need to contact your insurance company and review your policy.

Transporting children and youth in personal vehicles can also open the church up to major liability issues as well. I will discuss that topic in a later post.  As always you can find more information on this and other risk issues by visiting my website.  www.trinityriskmanagement.com