At that time letters were also sent to the National PTA and PTA state offices, and the American Automobile Manufacturers Association. Agency staff have also spoken about non-conforming vehicles at many pupil transportation and highway safety conferences. The announcement also contained information on how to report a suspected illegal sale or lease of vans that are used in pupil transportation. The agency will continue to publicize the safety risks of transporting students in vehicles other than school buses and investigate all violations reported to the agency. Highway Safety Program Guideline 17, Pupil Transportation Safety, specifically recommends that any vehicle designed to carry more than 10 persons and which is used as a school bus comply with all Federal safety standards applicable to school buses at the time the vehicle was manufactured.
Some states do allow the use of non-school bus vehicles to transport students.
This is of great concern because students being transported in these vehicles are not receiving the level of protection they are provided in a vehicle that meets all school bus safety standards.