Nearly 80 percent of those who have died in 15-passenger vans were not buckled up.
15 passenger van driver#
The driver and all passengers should be required to wear lap/shoulder belts whenever the vehicle is in motion. Passenger restraints should be inspected periodically. A federal government rule issued in December 2004 requires lap/shoulder belts at all seating positions in new passenger vehicles, including 15-passenger vans. Fifteen-passenger vans have bench seats that can accommodate 3-4 people, but often only the outboard seats have lap/shoulder belts. Require all occupants to use their seat belts or the appropriate child restraint. Improperly inflated tires can change handling characteristics, increasing the prospect of a rollover crash. A NHTSA study found that 74 percent of all 15-passenger vans had improperly inflated tires. Fatal rollovers of 15-passenger vans are most likely to involve tire failure, since excessively worn or improperly inflated tires can lead to loss of vehicle control and ultimately a rollover. Tires need to be properly inflated and the tread should not be worn down. Inspect tires and check pressure before each use. In single-vehicle crashes, 15-passenger vans transporting ten or more occupants had a rollover rate nearly three times that of vans carrying fewer than 5. In fact, risk of rollover increases 9 to 12 percent per added occupant. NHTSA research indicates that rollover risk increases dramatically as the number of occupants increases.
15 passenger van how to#
However, organizations that use 15-passenger vans to transport students, seniors, sports groups or other members, should still be aware of how to reduce rollover risks, avoid potential dangers, and better protect occupants in the event of a rollover crash. As a result, ESC is a standard feature in all 15-passenger vans purchased after 2006. Results from a limited NHTSA study indicate that ESC installed in 15-passenger vans may have important safety benefits in some, but not all, on-road driving situations. Electronic stability controlĮlectronic Stability Control (ESC) is an on-board crash avoidance system designed to help the driver stay in control during an emergency maneuver like sudden swerving or braking. NHTSA continues to get the word out about this increased rollover risk, as well as what can be done to mitigate it. Still, more can be done to alert operators about the vehicles’ high center of gravity - particularly when fully loaded - and ways to reduce chances of rollover. Still, these vehicles pose a safety risk to occupants, claiming the lives of 58 people in accidents in 2006.
Statistics show the number of deaths in 15-passenger van rollover crashes has been declining steadily since 2001. The good news is that such consumer alerts and educational efforts are apparently working to help reduce fatalities.
In response, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued numerous safety advisories on these vehicles. Fifteen-passenger vans are more likely to be involved in single-vehicle rollover crashes than any other type of vehicle.
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