Revised 09/22/08
20.3.13

The following guidelines apply to:

Any driver using a Van (All Vans - District owned, rented, leased, or borrowed) while on District related business or District related activities. These guidelines also apply to the department and individual responsible for maintaining the Vans.

VAN DRIVING GUIDELINES

1.All van drivers must be on the District's "Approved Drivers List." 

(A) The District Approved Drivers List is located on the Risk Management Web Page.

(B) To become an approved driver see your campus coordinator.

(C) Risk Management will submit the employee's name to the Motor Vehicle Records Service to obtain the Texas driver record.

(D) The driving record of the potential driver will determine whether the individual is approved or rejected as a DCCCD driver.

2. After January 1, 2002, all drivers must have completed Van Driver Safety Training before driving a van on District related business or District related activities.

(A) National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) issued a Consumer Advisory on April 9, 2001, cautioning drivers of certain vans about the increased risk of rollover under certain conditions. The advisory was reissued in 2002 and a detailed Consumer Advisory was issued June 1, 2004.

(B) As the driver, YOU have a responsibility for the safety of your passengers.

(C) The Driver Training provides help in understanding the differences between vans and autos in their handling. In addition, Driver Training can reduce the frequency and severity of accidents thus protecting YOU the driver, students, and other District employees.

To schedule training contact Risk Management.

3. Seatbelts are mandatory for all van occupants including the driver. The driver will not shift into "drive" until all occupants are wearing their seatbelts.

4. No more than 10 occupants per van (including the driver.) No overloading the vehicle. The driver will not operate a van with luggage or other items placed above the bottom of any window frame in the vehicle. All luggage will be stored in the rear luggage area. No luggage will be placed in the passenger or driver's area. No luggage will be placed on the roof of the vehicle. The driver will not operate an overload vehicle.

5. No driving faster than the posted speed limit.

6. No smoking allowed in district owned, rented, leased or borrowed vans.

7. Completion of Van Safety Forms. All three forms have been developed for the convenience of District campuses. Each form was developed from research of the automotive industry's generally accepted recommendations on items to be checked before a trip (or regular maintenance) and forms already in use by several campuses. Individual campuses and/or departments may wish to add to the form to meet their individual needs.

The forms in their current format are not finalized but are "works in progress." All three forms will be reviewed at a later date. Suggestions and comments are welcomed. Please address your suggestions and comments to bw@dcccd.edu.

A. The "Pre-Trip Safety Checklist" must be completed each time the van is checked out and before it is driven.

(a) The "Pre-Trip Safety Checklist" must be signed by the campus coordinator for the "Approved Drivers List" stating the driver checking out the van is currently on the "Approved Driver's List."

(b) The driver checking out the vehicle must read the instructions on the back of the "Pre-Trip Safety Checklist," complete the form, and sign the bottom of the form before driving the van.

B. The "Vehicle Check Out Form" must be completed each time the van is checked out and before it is driven.

(a) The employee from the department responsible for the maintenance of the van (not the department releasing the keys to the driver) must read the instructions on the back of the "Vehicle Check Out Form," complete the form, and sign the bottom of the form before releasing the van.

C. The "Vehicle Maintenance Log" was developed for those campuses and/or departments who do not have a maintenance log or system to record all maintenance and preventative maintenance on their vehicle. Campuses and/or departments are free to develop their own log or system for recording maintenance and preventative maintenance. Regardless what system or log is adopted a folder must be maintained by the campus department responsible for maintenance on the vehicles.

The department and individual responsible for the campus vehicles will also be responsible for maintaining a folder for the "Vehicle Check Out Form," "Pre-Trip Safety Check List," and the "Vehicle Maintenance Log" (or its' equivalent) in their respective office. All forms will be stored for two years in the responsible department's office and three years in Records Management.