Dallas district stops use of 12- to 15-passenger vans for student transportation

The passenger vans being used to transport hundreds of students in the Dallas school district are being pulled off the streets. WFAA-TV says the action follows its investigation that exposed the vans as dangerous and illegal for public school transportation in Texas. Private vendors driving private cars, vans, and SUVs had been hired to transport about 1,800 students, and many of those students were being transported in 12-passenger-style shuttle vans. The Texas Education Agency and the Texas Association of School Boards say school districts in the state are not allowed to use 12- or 15-passenger vans to transport students to and from school. Because of the dangers associated with passenger vans, Dallas district officials have decided the vendors no longer will be allowed to use them.