An investigation of transportation policies and practices in NAIA and NJCAA athletic departments in the United States

The purpose of this study was to identify transportation policies and practices in intercollegiate athletic departments among National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and National Junior College Athletic Association institutions in the United States. This research used an online survey to gather transportation information from 765 athletic directors who typically administer these policies. The survey is designed to collect information that specifically relate to transportation issues that include 15-passenger van usage, modes of transportation, driver qualifications, and policy development and implementation.; A response rate of 31 percent resulted in 238 institutions that responded from all areas of the United States. Transportation is an often-overlooked issue in intercollegiate athletics (Fried, 1999). Various modes of transportation are used by athletic departments, the most risky being 15-passenger vans. Results of the study indicated continued high usage of the high-risk 15-passenger vans (80%). The liability remains at a greater risk for athletic departments and institutions when vans continue to be used rather than contracted buses, aircraft, or minibuses. Other transportation concerns that are addressed include the use of personal vehicles, policies during inclement weather, distances or time allowed per day, and aircraft usage. This study also described the most prevalent modes of transportation for 17 sports.; National safety organizations such as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration have issued repeated warnings concerning the increased risks of using 15-passenger vans. Several team accidents have shown 15-passenger vans are at high propensity for rollover accident. Many of the respondents are ignoring the safety recommendations especially pertaining to 15-passenger van usage, more specifically, the recommended number of passengers allowed in these vans.; Athletic directors are generally charged with the responsibility to oversee transportation policies in college athletic departments (Appenzeller, 1998). Overall responsibility of policy adherence was found to have a greater relationship with transportation issues than did budget amounts. Safe transportation guidelines from the literature should be revisited by athletic administrators and strongly considered for implementation in their departments. The findings of this study revealed athletic administrators should more closely consider their departmental policies and practices regarding safe student transportation and strive to make the necessary improvements.