MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
S35.14
Revised 4-06
Risk Management
335-6893
Motor Pool
335-9085
PDF link
OVERVIEW
University departments, employees, students, and volunteers who operate University-owned, commercially-leased, or -rented vans are responsible for complying with the safety policies and procedures described in this section.
Authorization
See S35.10 regarding requirements for passengers and drivers and authorization to drive University motor vehicles, including passenger vans.
RESTRICTIONS
The following restrictions apply to the use of cargo and large passenger vans.
Cargo Vans
Cargo vans are defined as all vans used for non-passenger travel. Typically, cargo vans include only two seat positions. Cargo vans may not exceed five seat positions.
Cargo vans with more than two seat positions are restricted to roadways where posted speed limits do not exceed 35 mph.
There is no scheduled phase-out of cargo van use.
Large Passenger Vans
Large passenger vans are defined as vans with an original passenger capacity of 10-15 seat positions.
Restriction Schedule
Restrictions regarding the use of large passenger vans will be implemented by the University in conformance with the following schedule.
- Effective immediately: Hourly employees and students may not operate any van carrying K-12 students. Such passengers must be transported by faculty, volunteers, and staff drivers.
- Effective immediately: Transportation of K-12 students is prohibited in large passenger vans on roadways where the posted speed limits exceed 35 mph.
- Effective March 13, 2006: Departments are to reduce seating in large passenger vans to nine seat positions in University-owned vans. Restrict use to eight passengers in commercially-leased or rented vans.
- Effective March 13, 2006: Pre-2001 large passenger vans are restricted to the local area where posted speed limits do not exceed 35 mph.
- Effective April 17, 2006: All drivers operating large passenger vans on roadways with posted speed limits exceeding 35 mph are required to complete behind-the-wheel driving skills evaluation and certification.
- Effective July 1, 2006: The use of all large passenger vans is restricted to the local area where posted speed limits do not exceed 35 mph.
- Effective January 1, 2007: Eliminate Pre-2003 large passenger vans from the passenger van fleet.
- Effective January 1, 2008: Use of large passenger vans is prohibited for transport of passengers. Note the exception for the commuter ride-sharing program.
Risk Management maintains a list of all approved exceptions to these restrictions.
Commuter Ride-Sharing Exception
The commuter ride-sharing program (van pool program) is permitted to use large passenger vans. Drivers have extensive behind-the-wheel driving experience and are driving familiar routes. The commuters must pay the program's prorated capital depreciation and operational expenses, including a business auto liability policy. Commuters must have a WSU Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability form on file with Risk Management.
To obtain copies of the release of liability form, see the Risk Management website at:
http://www.wsu.edu/riskmanagement/
Select Liability Releases.
After April 17, 2006, a commuter driver must complete a driving skills evaluation and receive certification prior to his or her initial assignment to drive a large passenger van. See below.
PASSENGER VAN DRIVER REQUIREMENTS
Any person driving a University passenger van must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be on official WSU business (see S35.10.2);
- Be at least 21 years of age;
- Have at least five years of driving experience;
- Possess a valid driver's license and any insurance as required by appropriate laws, rules, and/or regulations (see S35.10.1); and
- Meet the minimum driving record standard. See below.
Hourly employees and students may not operate vans carrying K-12 students.
Minimum Driving Record Standard
A person who had any of the events listed below occur within the past three years is ineligible to be a University passenger van driver:
- Suspension/revocation of license;
- Negligent or reckless driving conviction;
- Hit and run conviction;
- Conviction for leaving the scene of an accident;
- Conviction for failure to appear in court;
- Conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances;
- Vehicle-related felony conviction; and/or
- Criminal determination as "at fault" in an accident.
Additionally, a driver may not have more than three other moving violations of any type in the past three years.
Risk Management considers additional pertinent driving violations or known behaviors on an individual basis which may result in exclusion from WSU van driving privileges for the individual. In accordance with this policy, a driver must not drive if:
- Driving status changes as caused by any of the events listed above; or
- Physical, psychological, emotional, or other conditions render the individual unfit to drive.
The driver must inform the University the next business day after any existing or new conviction, revocation, suspension, or moving violation as described above.
Driving Record and Insurance
The passenger van driver must provide a copy of his or her driving abstract or record and proof of a personal automobile insurance policy to the authorizing official. A driving abstract is defined as a record or abstract of all violations obtained from the driver's issuing state's department of licensing or similar agency.
The driver must provide a current driving abstract or record annually to the authorizing official as a condition of maintaining the privilege to drive a University van.
Passenger Van Safety Training Course
Prior to her or his initial operation of a large passenger van, an authorized driver must complete a van safety training course and possess a current van safety training course completion card. See below.
A van driver safety course completion card is valid for a period of two years.
On-the-Road Driving Evaluation Program
Prior to her or his initial operation of a large passenger van used on roadways with posted speed limits greater than 35 mph, the driver must complete a behind-the-wheel driving skills evaluation and certification. See below.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Van Driver Responsibilities
Safety Procedures
The driver is responsible for following the safety procedures in this section (S35.14) and S35.10.
Seat Belts
The driver must provide verbal notice to passengers to connect seat belts prior to operating the vehicle. To ensure that seat belts are fastened, the driver must also conduct a visual check of each passenger prior to operating the vehicle and after any stop at which the passengers have disembarked and re-embarked onto the van.
Department Responsibilities
At the initial driving assignment and prior to van operation, departmental managers or supervisors must:
- Review the driver's driving abstract against the minimum driving record standard (see above) for items which prohibit a prospective driver from driving a van.
The department must attach the most current driving abstract and proof of insurance to the Passenger Van Driver Valid License to Drive and Driving Experience Statement. See below.
- Visually check that the state driver's license is valid under Washington state laws and is the correct type of license for the activity and/or type of van being driven.
The visual check is to verify that the driver's license:
Has not expired,
Photo matches the driver,
Name matches University records, and
Birth date indicates driver is at least 21 years of age.
- Obtain certification from the driver that he or she has five years of driving experience.
- Inform the driver that policy requires him or her to notify manager or supervisor the following business day after any existing or new conviction, revocation, suspension, or moving violation as set forth in the minimum driving record standard. See above.
- Have any driver who may be assigned to drive a large-passenger van or may be a high-mileage driver complete a van safety training course prior to operating the van.
The department must have each University van driver sign the following documents at the time of his or her initial passenger van driving assignment.
- Passenger Van Driver Safe Driving Practices Acknowledgment Statement (Access the PDF master form on S35.14.8.)
- Passenger Van Driver Valid License to Drive and Driving Experience Statement (Access the PDF master form on S35.14.9.) The supervisor must sign the manager/supervisor responsibilities checklist portion of this form.
Risk Management recommends that the department print these documents back to back on a single sheet. The department is to retain these documents in accordance with applicable records retention requirements. See 90.01.
Driver Safety Awareness Documents
Departments must place and maintain the following driver safety awareness documents in a conspicuous location in each large passenger van. Departments and units must provide each driver with a copy of these documents to use when renting a large passenger van.
- Reducing the Risk of Rollover Crashes in Passenger Vans hangtag. Print, fold, and cut the PDF master on S35.14.10 as indicated to obtain the hangtag.
- Reducing the Risk of Rollover Crashes in Passenger Vans flyer. Print the PDF master on S35.14.11-12 to obtain copies of the flyer.
These documents are also available from Risk Management.
Preventative Maintenance Program
Each University department with a van must have an established preventive maintenance program. See 95.35 for more information.
WSU Pullman Vehicles
All WSU Pullman vehicles must be maintained by the Motor Pool. WSU Pullman departments must also have emissions testing and annual safety inspections conducted by the Motor Pool for each vehicle. (See 95.35.)
All large van and high mileage drivers must complete a van safety training course. Those van drivers who have had a driver error accident may also be required to complete the course. The Risk Management highly recommends that all other van drivers complete the course.
Human Resource Services (HRS) conducts the University's van driver training sessions. To register to attend a training session, go to the HRS Training website, at:
Select Training.
A van safety training course must be completed every two years.
Risk Management maintains a list of approved substitution courses available to drivers who are unable to attend an HRS training class.
On-the-Road Driving Evaluation and Certification
Effective April 17, 2006, all drivers operating large-passenger vans on roadways where the posted speed limit is greater than 35 mph must complete a behind-the-wheel driving skills evaluation and receive certification from a University police officer. Driving skills evaluations are not required for cargo, seven-, and eight-passenger van drivers.
Large passenger van drivers at University locations which do not have campus police departments must contact Risk Management for information regarding driving skills evaluation and certification.
A driver participating in a commuter ride-sharing program must complete a driving skills evaluation and receive certification prior to his or her initial assignment to drive a large passenger van.
WSU Pullman
WSU Pullman drivers may enroll in Van Driving On Road Evaluation classes through the HRS Training website, at:
Select Training.
After July 1, 2006
After July 1, 2006, large passenger vans are prohibited from highway use, except for vans driven under a commuter ride-sharing program (van pool program). Therefore, after July 1, 2006, only large passenger van drivers participating in commuter ride-sharing programs are required to complete driving skills evaluation and certification. See above.
See the PDF master forms:
S35.14.8: Passenger Van
Driver Safe Driving Practices Acknowledgment Statement
S35.14.9: Passenger Van
Driver Valid License to Drive and Driving Experience Statement
Complete and/or print as needed.
See the PDF master documents:
S35.14.10: Reducing
the Risk of Rollover Crashes in Passenger Vans hangtag
(Print as needed. Fold and cut where indicated to assemble.)
S35.14.11-12: Reducing
the Risk of Rollover Crashes in Passenger Vans flyer
(Print as needed.)