www.collinsaav.com/alliance91202.html -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 9/12/2002
Last Visited: 3/16/2007
With a reported 500,000 of these passenger vans on the road, Collins believes there is a significant need to replace them with buses that meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
"Unfortunately, the general public doesn't understand the inherent safety risks involved with 15-passenger vans.These large vans are designed to carry 10 or more passengers, yet don't meet federal school bus safety standards and are more susceptible to rollovers.Between 1990 and 2000, these vans were involved in 388 rollovers, killing 558 people," said Donald Lynn Collins, President/CEO of Collins Industries, Inc."GuideOne Insurance is to be commended for taking this position with its policyholders on such an important safety issue."
As the leader in the small school bus market, Collins was able to provide GuideOne with a national sales and service network for the company's more than 50,000 church policyholders, 10,000 of which currently own 15-passenger vans.In addition, this alliance is part of an educational program directed to all GuideOne commercial policyholders.The educational kits, titled "Road to Safety," include a video entitled "Recognizing the Dangers of 15-passenger Vans," a 36-page guide on 15-passenger van use, key chains and visors that churches can utilize as safety reminders, the opportunity to participate in a defensive driving course, and information from Collins offering a complete line of Allowable Alternate Vehicles from its two bus companies, Mid Bus, Inc. and Collins Bus Corporation.