Newsday (New York), "GM's Stabilitrak"

          General Motors says the addition of its stability enhancement system to 15-passenger vans is preventing accidents. The assertions come at a time when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is restating its warning of the rollover risk of 15-passenger vans.
          Ross Hendrix, marketing director of commercial brand vans for GM's fleet and commercial operations, says the automaker has seen gradual but significant growth in sales of 15-passenger Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans this year. GM made its Stabilitrak system a standard feature on the vans in October 2003. Hendrix says the feature helps prevent the driver from losing control of a vehicle by analyzing the driver's intention and then responding.
          Dodge stopped producing its full-sized Ram Van, which included 15-passenger versions, last summer. Ford will make its stability feature standard on some full-sized Econoline vans in the 2006 model year, says spokeswoman Kristen Kinley. NHTSA has issued three warnings about the risks of driving and riding in 15-passenger vans.
          A NHTSA study compared the performance of two 15-passenger vans, a 2003 Ford F-350 without a stability control feature and a 2004 GMC Savana 3500 with Stabilitrak. It concluded that electronic stability control systems "could have some safety benefits under certain conditions."