DETROIT (AP) – General Motors plans to add more stability features to its 15-passenger vans in response to concerns about rollover accidents.

The world’s largest automaker said it will install the systems in GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express vans beginning with 2004 models.

“We will take what we believe is already a very safe vehicle and make it even better,” said Ray Chess, GM’s vehicle line executive for commercial trucks and vans.

Stability enhancement systems help drivers maintain control of vehicles when they encounter ice, snow, gravel, wet pavement and uneven road surfaces, or make sudden steering movements during emergencies. The systems use sensors to recognize wheel skid and activate the brakes to keep the vehicle on course. GM began installing stability systems in passenger cars in 1997 and in sport utility vehicles in 2002.

Last year, the government renewed a safety warning for 15-passenger vans, which often are used by churches, sports teams and other groups. Some 500,000 of the vans are in use on U.S. highways.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has said the vans have a dramatically higher risk of rollovers when fully loaded and should be operated only by experienced drivers.