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Reducing the Risk of Rollover Crashes |
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Fifteen-passenger vans typically have seating positions for a driver and 14 passengers. They are widely used by community organizations to take members on short trips and outings. Colleges use them to drive sports teams to intercollegiate games, and vanpools use them for commuters. |
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What factors increase the risk of rollover crashes? Recent research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that the risk of a rollover crash is greatly increased when there are 10 or more passengers in a 15-passenger van. This increased risk occurs because the passenger weight raises the vehicle’s center of gravity and causes it to shift rearward. As a result, the van is more likely to roll over and handles differently from other commonly driven passenger vehicles, making it more difficult to control in an emergency situation. Placing any load on the roof also raises the center of gravity and increases the likelihood of a rollover. What can organizations do to protect their passengers? Over the past decade, 80 percent of the people killed in rollover crashes of 15-passenger vans were unbelted. 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, and its’ drivers should actively enforce the policy. Does an experienced driver make a difference? Significant differences in the design and handling characteristics of a 15-passenger van make it handle differently from other passenger vehicles. 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. Therefore, an organization that owns a 15-passenger van should select one or two experienced drivers to drive the van on a regular basis. These drivers will gain valuable experience handling the van and such experience will help make each trip a safe one. |
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Reprinted from The Reconstructor, Newsletter of Boster, Kobayashi & Associates, Winter 2002. |
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