The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has shown that the risk of rollover in 15-Passenger vans is real, and has issued several cautionary warnings about these vehicles over the last few years. Most states have already banned 15-passenger vans for public school use because of the increased risk. However many organizations including sports groups, church groups, rental agencies, tour companies, and others continue to use them.
The best policy is to avoid using these vehicles at all. But if it is unavoidable, here are seven ways to help reduce the risk of injury.
Reduce the Maximum Load – Studies have shown that 15-passenger van carrying a maximum passenger load are five times more likely to roll over in an accident than with the driver alone. Operating at half-full with all passengers sitting in front of the rear axle reduces this risk to two times.
Do Not Replace People with Gear – Filling remaining seats with cargo defeats the purpose of reducing the number of passengers. A full load of gear can weigh just as much as a full passenger load.
Do Not Add Weight to Roof – Do not install a roof rack or otherwise carry gear on the roof. This will add to the top-heavy, back-heavy stresses on the vehicle which increases the risk of rollover.
Ensure All Passengers Wear Seatbelts – One report showed that 75% of the people killed in a 15-passenger van rollover were not properly restrained. On the other hand, 92% of those wearing proper seatbelts did survive.
Ensure Your Driver is Experienced – In several accidents studied, it was found that the driver was inexperienced and/or not familiar with the handling of a 15-passenger van. These vehicles do not handle the same way as a car or even a mini-van – even professional test drivers can lose control of these vehicles because of their rollover tendencies. If possible, ensure that the driver is trained or has a good amount of experience driving these vehicles. At the very least, select a driver with several years experience driving normal vehicles, and ensure that they know the problems that can arise. Much of this information can be found at the NHTSA website.
Check Your Tires – Ensure that tires are properly inflated, and that the tread is not worn down. Because of the excessive forces these vehicles can experience even in normal driving, tires may wear down faster than may be expected.
Maintain a Safe Speed – Most fatal accidents involving 15-passenger vans occur on high speed roadways (50+ mph). These vehicles need more room to stop, and do not handle well in emergency swerving or shoulder-drop situations. Ensure that the driver is awake and alert, and drives according to road and weather conditions.
If you have been injured in a 15-passenger van accident, the question of liability can quickly become complicated. Call attorney David I. Fuchs at 800-570-2858 for legal counsel and guidance.