How safe is a 15-passenger van?

How safe is a 15-passenger van?

According to a research note published in 2009 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 15-passenger vans with 10 or more occupants on board are three times more likely to roll over in a crash than those with fewer than five occupants1.

Why do 15-passenger vans roll over?

Tires need to be properly inflated and the tread should not be worn down. 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.

What is the percentage of 15-passenger van occupants killed in crashes who were not wearing their seat belts?

Require all occupants to use their seat belts or the appropriate child restraints: Nearly 80% of those who died nationwide in 15-passenger vans were not buckled up.

What is considered the most unsafe time to drive a passenger van?

Drivers experience more fatigue between midnight and 6 a.m. 70% of van crashes involve backing into a stationary object. After pulling into a spot, place a traffic cone behind your vehicle. Crashes with deer can occur anywhere in Maine – even urban areas.

Do vans tip over easily?

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) said new research shows that fully loaded vans are five times more likely to flip than vans containing only a driver.

Are 12 passenger vans safer than 15-passenger vans?

Large Vans Are More Dangerous Than Other Passenger Vehicles Large passenger vans (typically holding 12-15 people) are much more dangerous than a normal car or truck. For example, due to their high center of gravity, rigid structures, and seating configurations, they have a higher risk of rollovers.

Are vans unsafe?

Several factors make large vans more dangerous than other vehicles. Due in part to a high center of gravity, these vehicles are at an increased risk for rollovers. The 2004 NHTSA study showed that rollovers contributed to 53 percent of fatal single-vehicle accidents involving 15-passenger vans.

How should passengers be loaded in the van to reduce the risk of a roll over crash?

Passengers can dramatically reduce their risk of being killed or seriously injured in a rollover crash by simply using their seat belts. Organizations that own 15- passenger vans should have a written seat belt use policy.

What is the leading causes of large van rollovers?

Speed. Speed is the biggest contributor to rollover crashes, being involved in 45% of the crashes making up the LTCCS sample. This greatly exceeds the 23% of all large truck crashes attributed to “Traveling Too Fast for Conditions” (FMCSA 2006). Speed-related causes are listed in Table 1.

Are passenger vans safe?

“Research has shown that 15-passenger vans have a rollover risk that increases dramatically as the number of occupants increases from fewer than five to more than 10,” states the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, adding that “15-passenger vans with 10 or more occupants had a rollover rate in single- …

Do you need a CDL to drive a 15-passenger van in NJ?

Drivers, whether paid or volunteer, must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) if they operate a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight greater than 26,000 pounds or a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

Are vans safer in a crash?

While commercial vans do not necessarily have a higher crash rate than other motor vehicles, crashes involving vans tend to be more severe for their opponent vehicles. According to the European Commission, casualties comprise around 4 percent of total fatal or seriously injured vehicle occupant casualties.