Fatalities to Occupants of 15-Passenger Vans, 2003-2007. Transportation Safety Facts. Research Note

摘要

While 15-passenger vans are convenient, drivers and pas-sengers must use caution to minimize the risks associated with these vehicles. NHTSA research has shown that 15-pas-senger vans have a rollover risk that increases dramatically as the number of occupants increases from fewer than five to more than ten.1 In fact, 15-passenger vans with 10 or more occupants had a rollover rate in single vehicle crashes that is nearly three times the rate of those that had fewer than five occupants. NHTSA recommends that drivers insist all occu-pants wear safety belts at all times; that drivers of 15-pas-senger vans are trained and experienced; tires are checked at least once a week, using the manufacturers recommended pressure levels; and no loads are placed on the roof of the vehicle.3 The purpose of this study is to increase the knowledge of fatalities of occupants of 15-passenger vans by looking at the demographics of those that drive and ride in these vans when they are involved in fatal crashes, in addition to updating rollover and restraint data.