15-Person Passenger Vans

Fifteen-passenger vans are in widespread use for sporting teams, religious groups and numerous others. The vans are popular because they provide a relatively inexpensive way to transport a group of people in a vehicle that anyone with a regular license can drive.

These vans have a high propensity to rollover during emergency maneuvers as they are manufactured top heavy, with a high center of gravity and have weak rear extensions. Due to the classification of this type of vehicle (cargo vans / bus), manufacturers are not legally required to uphold basic safety rules that could protect its passengers in accidents. This risk increases dramatically with each additional passenger in the van.

An investigation by CBS News revealed at least 424 people nationwide have been killed and hundreds seriously injured in rollovers of the vans since 1990. There are more than a half a million passenger vans on the road today with 21,000 being sold annually.

Public Citizen, a national non-profit public interest group, reported that between 1990-2000, 864 occupants died in 15 passenger van crashes with almost half occurring in single vehicle rollover crashes. This propelled the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue its first warning and report in April 2001 followed by another warning in April 2002. Public Citizen continues to pressure NHTSA for more action, testing and stronger standards and warnings to protect the consumer. They also continue to pressure General Motors, Ford and Daimler Chrysler to offer the same retrofit packages ($300 - $400) that have been provided on pick-up trucks for years. For more on passenger vans click here.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a report discussing the 15-passenger van’s propensity for rollover. The report noted that when loaded with 10 or more occupants, the rollover ratio for 15-passenger vans is three times that when loaded with five or fewer passengers. When filled with over fifteen passengers the 15-passenger vans have a rollover ratio of 70 percent. They also provided a report to reduce the risk of rollover crashes. For more information on passenger vans click here.

GuideOne Insurance has also issued a report warning their clients of the dangers of this van stating the vans are “inherently unsafe.” GuideOne has stopped selling new policies for the 15-passenger vans; this is the first time in the company’s 55-year history that GuideOne has eliminated a line of coverage for safety reasons.

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