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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONSUMER ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2002
Media Calls: Rae Tyson (202) 366-9550
Consumer Calls: 1-888-327-4236
Jeffrey Runge, MD, Administrator of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today reissued a cautionary
warning to users of 15-passenger vans because of an increased
rollover risk under certain conditions. A similar warning
was issued in 2001.
The agency also issued a new consumer flyer for 15-passenger
van users. A copy of the flyer can be downloaded from the
NHTSA website: www.nhtsa.dot.gov
NHTSA research has showed that 15-passenger vans have a rollover
risk that is similar to other light trucks and vans when carrying
a few passengers. However, the risk of rollover increases
dramatically as the number of occupants increases from fewer
than five to more than ten.
In fact, 15-passenger vans (with 10 or more occupants) had
a rollover rate in single vehicle crashes that is nearly three
times the rate of those that were lightly loaded.
Because of these risks, it is important that 15-passenger
vans be operated by experienced drivers. A person transporting
16 or more people for commercial purposes is required to have
a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), which requires certain
specialized knowledge and driving skills. Although the drivers
of these private-use vehicles are not required to possess
a CDL, they should still understand and be familiar with the
handling characteristics of these vans, especially when the
vehicle is fully loaded.
A new NHTSA analysis reinforces the value of seat belts.
Eighty percent of those who died nationwide in 15-passenger
van rollovers in 2000 were not buckled up. Wearing seat belts
dramatically increases the chances of survival during a rollover
crash. In fatal single-vehicle rollovers involving 15-passenger
vans over the past decade, 92 percent of belted occupants
survived compared to 23 percent for unbelted occupants. NHTSA
urges that institutions using 15-passenger vans require seat
belt use at all times.
NHTSA is reissuing this advisory to specifically alert summertime
users of 15-passenger vans. The summer of 2001 saw several
tragic rollover crashes involving religious groups on trips.
In the past, a number of rollover crashes involved 15-passenger
vans loaded with college students (often driven by a fellow
student rather than a professional driver).
While federal law prohibits the sale of 15-passenger vans
for the school-related transport of high school age and younger
students, no such prohibition exists for vehicles to transport
college students or other passengers. NHTSA also is considering
the potential benefits of an additional warning label about
rollover and seat belt use that would be visible to the driver
and passengers of 15-passenger vans, respectively.
A copy of the NHTSA analysis of the rollover characteristics
of 15-passenger vans can be found at: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/AvailInf.html
under "Research Notes".
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