The use of so-called non-conforming vans--which don't meet the same safety standards as school buses--is coming under increasing criticism and pressure from insurers, safety advocates and unions. The vans, commonly used by schools, universities, churches, hotels and many others, can carry up to 15 passengers. Unfortunately, federal safety experts have found that the more people they carry, the more likely the vehicles are to roll over; van accidents have led to hundreds of deaths in the past decade.

The latest pressure to restrict their use comes from some insurance companies, which are refusing to insure the vans because of fear of expensive lawsuits. Other companies are raising premiums to cover the vans. In addition, the National Transportation Safety Board last fall sent a letter to automakers suggesting design changes to make the vans safer. The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen went even further, urging the federal government to ban the sale of the vans until they are safer.

For its part, the AFT adopted a resolution at its 2002 convention that called for greater efforts to educate school administrators about the dangers of non-conforming vans and for policies to close the loopholes that allow schools to purchase vans despite some restrictions on their sale. The American Association of Classified School Employees, with which the AFT PSRP division is affiliated, is working on legislation in Congress, sponsored by Rep. Mark Udall of Colorado, to address some of these issues.