Everyday throughout the United States, people of all ages ride in fifteen passenger vans. Some people use the vehicles to get to and from the airport, while others are transported to school, church, and work events. Many large families use these vehicles as their main transportation because they are the only vehicles that can seat the entire family. Unfortunately, many people lose their lives or sustain serious injuries due to dangerous fifteen passenger vehicles. If you own a 15 passenger van and want to learn about van safety and how to protect your family from rollover accidents, click here: http://www.citizen.org/autosafety/passengervan/articles.cfm?ID=8917.

The following lists some recent 15 passenger van accidents that have occurred in the United States:

• In 2004 three members of a New York church were killed and nine others injured when the 15 passenger van they were traveling in rolled over.
• In 2003 a teenaged boy was killed and five children were hurt in a 15 passenger van accident when the vehicle fishtailed and crashed into a ditch in Missouri.
• In March 2003 a 15 passenger van transporting migrant workers rolled over after the driver lost control of the vehicle. This accident killed four passengers and injured five other passengers.
• In April 2002 a 15 passenger van accident occurred in Texas resulting in the death of one child and injuring five other children.
• A passenger van accident in Virginia injured six people and killed two others.

The unsuspecting drivers and occupants involved in these passenger van accidents, as well as those involved in similar accidents are typically not aware of the risks that these vehicles pose, or the statistics regarding the injuries and fatalities that have been associated with passenger van accidents and rollovers. The government has reported that approximately 483 deadly rollover accidents involving 15 passenger vans have taken place in a recent twenty year period. These crashes have resulted in the deaths of over 760 people, as well as seriously injuring many other accident victims. In 2002, 60 Minutes II did a story about the hazards of 15 passenger vans:

The lives of 15 passenger accident victims are changed forever following a traumatic van accident. Some passengers will suffer from disfigurement, scarring, internal bleeding, head injury, fractured bones, and/or long term injuries or disabilities as a result of a van accident. Tragically, many people who have been in 15 passenger van accidents with family members have lost loved ones, such as a spouse or child.

The government and various consumer safety groups have made announcements warning the public of the hazards of passenger vans, as well as informing people of how to stay safe while driving or riding in 15 passenger vans. In fact, the government has stated that 15 passenger vans are not designed to transport fifteen people, and that doing so may result in the vehicle fishtailing and rolling over. To read an article about the hazards of fully loaded passenger vans, click here: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2001-04-09-vans.htm. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made suggestions and recommendations to all 50 states, as well as passenger van manufacturers, driver educations groups, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding a variety of passenger van safety issues. To read the 15 passenger van Safety Report written by the National Transportation Safety Board, click here: http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2002/SR0203.pdf.

The following 15 passenger van safety information provided by the National Transportation Safety Board may help prevent accidents and rollovers:

• Passenger van manufacturers, including General Motors and Ford Motor Company have been asked to create a driving course which will instruction passenger van operators how to safely operate a fifteen passenger van, including emergency maneuvering, changing lanes, vehicle maintenance, and how to safely drive the vehicle when loaded to capacity.
• The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators has been asked to modify vehicle inspection manuals to include more safety information regarding tire safety. It is recommended that all drivers inspect their van before driving, such as checking tire pressure and making any necessary pressure adjustments prior to operating the van.
• Ensure that all restraint systems are in working order, and insist that passengers wear seat belts at all times. Suggestions have been made to passenger van manufacturers to redesign restraint systems for the vans and install them in newer models.

To read a 15 passenger van safety advisory from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), click here: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/studies/15PassVans/SpreadTheWord.html.

Informational 15 Passenger Van Accident Links and Resources:

• http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2002-10-01-rollover-test_x.htm - U.S. proposes road tests to measure vehicle rollover (USA Today)
• http://www.autosafety.org/ - The Center for Automotive Safety
• http://espn.go.com/gen/s/2001/0410/1170970.html - Government warns of rollover risk in 15-seat vans (ESPN)
• http://mb-soft.com/public/rollover.html - The Physics of SUV Rollover Accidents
• http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/nhtsa_vans.html - 15-Passenger Vans Most Likely to Flip