15 passenger vans rollovers

Churches often use 15-passenger vans for outings. Think twice before you get in!

It might be an easy way to transport people, but it may not be the safest.

More often that all other types of vehicles, a fully loaded 15-passenger van can roll over and cause severe spine injuries. Poor design is at the center of these cases. This occurs when the roof crushes in and the heads are either impacted by the roof or allowed to pass outside the van through a non-laminated window.

NHTSA is looking into the issue, but it seems to be too little too late for many. NHTSA has put out 3 advisories in 4 years about thes 15-passenger vans. The high center of garvity in these vans comes into play. They tend to fishtail, overturn. They are top-heavy. These vans are even worse when filled with occupants.

81% of deaths occur in single vehicle rollovers with 15-passenger vans. There were 376 fatal rollovers in the 17 years up to 1999. Those crashes killed 581 people, 60% of those in the vans.

Even using a seat belt does not help. There are not adequate pads to prevent occupants fro striking hard surfaces. The windows do not hold up. There is a lack of emergency exits.

The sad part is that technology exists which could make these 15-passenger vans safer.