Passenger Van Safety Patrol

Perhaps the most important thing pastors, principals, and parents can do for the well-being and safety of their congregation, students, and children is to check the tire pressure of the 15-passenger vans in which their charges will ride.

Dangers
The government says that in the last 10 years about 500 people have died when 15-passenger vans have rolled over. Some rollovers occur after low tire pressure has caused a tire to fail. On rainy roads, drivers can lose control when inadequate air pressure causes tires to hydroplane: water literally lifts the tire completely away from the road. Rollovers can also be provoked when inattentive drivers drop the van's right-side tires off the road and then overreact in an effort to get back on the pavement. Even normal maneuvers can be difficult when these extended-wheelbase versions of full-sized vans are heavily loaded.

Intolerant
Fifteen-passenger vans are a lot like airplanes: they're intolerant of lax maintenance, inexperienced operators, and careless loading.


The federal government has banned the purchase of 15-passenger vans by most schools. Some states prohibit schools from using the stretched vans. The increased risk of rollover has caused the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue warnings to users of 15-passenger vans. Several insurance companies no longer write policies on these vehicles.

Air
In order to carry the massive loads they're expected to haul, 15-passenger vans usually require a high 80 pounds per square inch (psi) of air pressure in their rear tires: it's the air, not the tires, that carries the load. Eighty psi is more than twice as high as the recommended air tire pressure for a minivan; it's also much more than what's available at most of your local self-service gas stations. Recommended front tire pressures on 15-passenger vans varies between 45 and 65 psi, still considerably higher than that recommended for a car. To find the correct tire pressure for your vehicle check the edge of the driver's door or door jamb, or call the vehicle manufacturer's toll-free 800 consumer-help line.