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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah State University has announced it will replace its full-size passenger vans with 15-passenger buses with dual rear tires.
The action announced Thursday followed a four-month review of the vans in the wake a September accident that killed eight students and their instructor.
"This is the right thing to do," said Glenn Ford, vice president of business and finance at USU. "And now is the right time to do it."
The new USU policy will allow 15-passenger vans to be used for cargo within 10 miles of the campus.
The policy still requires drivers of any school vehicles to undergo training and follow vehicle operation standards including wearing a seatbelt, taking rests every two hours and obeying nighttime driving restrictions.
All state schools are in the midst of creating new policies on who can drive the full-size vans and whether they can be used at all. Commissioner of Higher Education Rich Kendell said the state system wants to get the vans out of rotation as soon as possible and has asked the Legislature for $400,000 for replacement vehicles.
"I'm thrilled," said Beverly Bailey, sister of Evan Parker, the instructor who was driving the van that rolled on I-84 near Tremonton Sept. 26. "They are dangerous, and there's been enough accidents that they've realized that finally."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
