15-PASSENGER VAN SAFETY
Slick winter driving conditions demand that all drivers take extra steps to remain safe on the roads this time of year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has warned users of 15-passenger vans to take specific precautions to keep passengers safe due to the high rollover risk posed by these vehicles.
Tire maintenance is paramount to preventing tragic roll-over crashes. Individuals and organizations that use 15-passenger vans must inspect tires and check tire pressure before each use. Colder temperatures can cause the air in a vehicle’s tires to contract, causing tire pressure to fluctuate. Spare tires should never be used as replacement for worn tires on these vehicles.
15-passenger vans have been found to have a higher rate of rollover under certain conditions. An unrestrained 15-passenger van occupant involved in a single-vehicle crash is approximately three times as likely to be killed as a restrained occupant.
The federal government has recognized that these vehicles pose a risk. In fact, federal law prohibits the use of 15-passenger vans for school-related transport of pre-primary, primary and secondary school students as they do not provide the same level of safety as school buses. Schools may not buy new 15-passenger vans for school transportation purposes; however, unfortunately, all other individuals and organizations are not similarly restricted.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll have extensive experience representing all types of transportation injury cases, including those involving 15-passenger vans.
