Government Warns Public About Vans Used By Church Groups

A government warning was repeated on Tuesday about a popular type of vehicle used by many church groups, youth organizations and campers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 15-seat passenger vans have an increased risk of rolling over in certain circumstances.

Jeffrey Runge, an NHTSA administrator and a medical doctor, said the vehicles must be used with caution.

"We want to make sure people understand these vehicles do have limitations as far as how they should be loaded and how they'll be used," he said. "We warn people not to tow trailers and not to add any weight to the roof racks. These are trucks; they are meant to haul cargo, and in this case, people around -- and they need to make sure their cargo is safely buckled 100 percent of the time."

Government officials say the rollover risk is five times higher when 15-seat passenger vans are loaded to capacity than when only one driver is present. Without the proper use of a seat belt, passengers are three times more likely to die in a single-vehicle crash in the vans, the NHTSA said.

Ford and General Motors control most of the 15-seat passenger van market. Both companies have announced new stability technology for some of their fleets that will be standard by as early as 2005.

In a statement, Ford said there is government data to support the safety of the vehicles. GM said the vehicles do operate differently and users should read the owner's manual before operation.

More than 1,500 passenger vans were involved in fatal crashes from 1990 to 2002, according to the government agency. While there is no special training required to drive the vans, the government is urging only experienced drivers to get behind the wheel.

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