Well-trained and well-maintained” is a good motto for churches when it comes to vehicle safety, said Chip Smith, an associate in the office of LeaderCare and church administration at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
The National Transportation Safety Board reports that 36 percent of bus crashes are from driver fatigue and 20 percent involve improper maintenance.
“Everyone who drives a church vehicle should be trained and every vehicle should be regularly serviced,” Smith said, noting the older 15-passenger vans often used by churches are high-risk for rollovers.
Passenger vehicles have less than a 10 percent rollover risk while 15-passenger vans filled to capacity have a 70 percent rollover risk, he said.
“There are several steps churches can take if they own one of these,” Smith noted.
1. Remove the back seat.
2. Do not store luggage or other materials in the area where the back seat is removed.
3. Keep at least one-half tank of gasoline to provide stability.
4. Do not attach a top luggage carrier.
5. Do not attach a trailer.
6. Make sure the driver has a CDL license (required by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration).
If a church has a choice, then it should consider using a bus rather than a 15-passenger van, Smith said.
According to the National Safety Council, buses are rated safer than any other mode of transportation.
(Michael J. Brooks)
For more information, contact Smith at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 342, or csmith@alsbom.org.
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