Van Risks Concern Outdoor Program RMs

By Caroline McDonald

NU Online News Service, Nov. 6, 1:37 p.m.EST?The top issue for risk managers of outdoor adventureprograms continues to be worries about transporting customers in15-seat vans with rollover problems, said Drew Leemon, chairman ofthe Wilderness Risk Managers' Committee.

Mr. Leemon said the issue was heavily discussed at the annualWilderness Risk Management Conference in Reno, Nev., Oct.24-26.

"There is a lot of speculation as to what might occur," he said."A lot of organizations are stuck because they don't have thefinancial foundation to scrap their fleet of 15-passenger vans andgo to something else."

He said that as yet "there is not a clear direction for peopleto go," just "varying opinions" on what to do with the vans.

The 15-passenger vans, made by Ford and previously by Dodge,were the subject of a pair of warnings issued over the last fewyears by the National Highway Transportation SafetyAdministration.

Mr. Leemon is risk management director for the National OutdoorLeadership School in Riverton, Wyo., which trains instructors foroutdoor adventure programs such as those offered by Outward BoundUSA, YMCA, universities and other organizations.

He said that a Ford Motor Company engineer who spoke at theconference had "made it very clear that roof racks should beremoved from the vans."

But the controversy over the safety of the vehicle continues."Ford says these vehicles are fine." The federal government,however, warns that if they are filled to capacity, "they handledifferently."

He said the government advised organizations to hire experienceddrivers, as loaded vehicles "have a higher propensity for rollingover in a single vehicle crash." Yet even the National HighwayTransportation Administration, which previously issued warnings,did not warn against loading the vehicle to its capacity.

Some organizations, however, are feeling pressure from theattention the issue has received in the media and "have chosen toabandon use of these vehicles altogether," Mr. Leemon said.

Though he said Ford didn't answer as to its future plans, "mysense is that Ford is going to continue making [the vans]," hesaid. Dodge discontinued manufacturing the vans for reasons thatdid not include rollover propensity, he said.