15 Seat Passenger Van Safety

Fifteen seat passenger vans can be a dangerous form of transportation. Understanding the dangers and knowing the precautions an individual can take will help in keeping passengers safe.

Dangers

Fifteen seat passenger vans carry a greater risk of rollover, which often results in injury or death.

Risk

When the van is full with passengers the center of gravity in the vehicle shifts to the rear causing it to handle differently than a passenger vehicle. This leads to an increased risk of the driver losing control of the van. In addition, placing luggage or a rooftop carrier on the top of the van can lead to an increased risk of a rollover accident.

Precautions

To reduce the risk of dangerous roll-over accidents, make sure tires are properly inflated, ensure all passengers wear a seat belt, and require the driver to have proper training. When there are not 15 passengers in the van, passengers should sit in the seats that are over the front and rear axles.

Considerations

A driver of a 15 seat passenger van should understand it takes a longer distance to stop than smaller passenger vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the risk of injury and death can be decreased if there are less than 10 people in the van.

Federal Law

A 2005 law prohibits schools from using 15 seat passenger vans to transport students of high school age or younger.

References

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 15 Passenger Van Safety