Safety With 15-Passenger Vans

Recently, the news media has highlighted accidents involving 15-passenger vans. The crashes that received the most attention are single-vehicle rollover crashes.

On November 1, 2002, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a safety recommendation to Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation: "The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that manufacturers of 15-passenger vans evaluate, in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and test as appropriate, the potential of technological systems, particularly electronic stability drivers, in maintaining control of 15-passenger vans." What this refers to is several technological systems that have been developed to assist drivers in maintaining control of a vehicle. These include anti-lock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems. The NTSB wants the manufacturers to test these systems to see if they would be a viable addition to 15-passenger vans.

In the meantime, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have indicated several issues that should be addressed to help prevent 15-passenger rollover crashes. Areas of emphasis are:

• All 15-passenger vans should be operated by trained experienced drivers. This includes giving the operator the opportunity to operate the van in a "test drive" that includes both partially and fully loaded vans.
  
  
• All occupants must wear safety belts at all times.
  
  
• Check for correct tire pressure and tread wear daily.
  
  
• Do not load anything on top of the van. If necessary, remove the luggage rack.
  
  
• Place the weight as far forward in the van as possible. When possible, sit in front of the rear axle.
  
  
• Never exceed 15 passengers, and for every 150 lbs. of gear, carry one less person in the van.
  
  
• Driving characteristics of 15-passenger vans are very different than those of passenger cars. The vans are longer and wider and because of that, the vans:
  
  
• Require more space and additional reliance on the side view mirrors for changing lanes.
  
  
• Do not respond well to abrupt steering maneuvers.
  
  
• Require additional braking time.
  
  

If the wheels drop off the roadway, gradually reduce speed and steer the wheels back onto the road. Never jerk the steering wheel, as this is the cause of most rollovers.