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[House Report 110-608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     110-608

======================================================================

 
           PROMOTING THE SAFE OPERATION OF 15-PASSENGER VANS

                                _______
                                

   April 29, 2008.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 964]

  The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 964) to promote the safe 
operation of 15-passenger vans, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the 
resolution as amended be agreed to.
  The amendments are as follows:
  Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
following:

That the House of Representatives recognizes the need for awareness 
regarding the increased risks of driving 15-passenger vans and 
encourages any operator of such a vehicle or person who provides 
transportation in such a vehicle to provide adequate training for 
drivers and safety information, including the necessity for wearing 
safety belts, to passengers.

  Amend the preamble to read as follows:

Whereas an organization that owns or operates a 15-passenger van should not 
allow an inexperienced driver of such a van to drive the van because design 
and handling characteristics of a 15-passenger van make it drive 
differently than other passenger vehicles;

Whereas the safety records of drivers experienced in driving a 15-passenger 
van are significantly better than drivers not experienced in driving such a 
van;

Whereas according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
from 1997 through 2006 there were 1,090 fatalities of van occupants 
resulting from crashes involving 15-passenger vans of which 534 fatalities 
resulted from largely preventable single-vehicle rollover crashes of such 
vans;

Whereas according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2005, 
59 percent of the fatalities in 15-passenger van crashes occurred in 
single-vehicle rollover crashes, which is higher than the rollover fatality 
rates for any other passenger vehicle type;

Whereas 15-passenger vans require special driving skills because they are 
larger, with higher centers of gravity, which makes them less stable than 
vehicles such as cars, especially if the van is heavily loaded;

Whereas adding passengers in a 15-passenger van increases the center of 
gravity, causing the van to be increasingly difficult to handle and less 
stable;

Whereas the death rate for all occupants was higher for 15-passenger vans 
than for other passenger vehicle types combined;

Whereas during the period 2001 through 2005, the death rate for occupants 
of 15-passenger vans was 250 fatalities per million registered vehicles 
compared to 151 fatalities per million of all other registered vehicles;

Whereas impressing upon 15-passenger van drivers the inherent dangers of 
operating these vehicles, particularly when fully loaded, and educating 
them about proper handling and control, particularly during emergency 
situations, can reduce the risk of rollover, and such training can also 
help dispel the expectation that these vans operate like large passenger 
cars;

Whereas wearing safety belts dramatically increases the chances of survival 
during a rollover crash;

Whereas nearly 80 percent of those who died in 15-passenger van rollovers 
nationwide between 1990 and 2003 were not buckled up;

Whereas in fatal, single-vehicle rollover crashes involving 15-passenger 
vans over the past decade, 91 percent of occupants wearing safety belts 
survived; and

Whereas driver education and training, and general awareness of the dangers 
of these vans are effective means of reducing the death rates of occupants 
of 15-passenger vans: Now, therefore, be it

  Amend the title so as to read:

      Resolution promoting the safe operation of 15-passenger vans.

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 964 seeks to promote the safe operation of 15-
passenger vans on our nation's roads, recognizes the need for 
awareness regarding the increased risks of driving 15-passenger 
vans and encourages any operator of such vehicle to provide 
adequate training for drivers and safety information, including 
the necessity for wearing safety belts, to passengers.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Fifteen passenger vans require special driving skills 
because they are larger, with higher centers of gravity which 
make them less stable than vehicles such as cars, especially if 
the van is heavily loaded. An organization that owns or 
operates a 15-passenger van should not allow an inexperienced 
driver of such a van to drive the van because design and 
handling characteristics of a 15-passenger van make it drive 
differently than other passenger vehicles.
    According to the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, from 1997 through 2006, there were 1,090 
fatalities of van occupants resulting from crashes involving 
15-passenger vans of which 534 resulted from largely 
preventable single-vehicle rollover crashes of such vans. 
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 
2005, 59 percent of the fatalities in 15-passenger van crashes 
occurred in single-vehicle rollover crashes, which is higher 
than the rollover fatality rates for any other passenger 
vehicle type.
    The death rate for all occupants was higher for 15-
passenger vans than for other passenger vehicle types combined. 
During the period 2001 through 2005, the death rate for 
occupants of 15-passenger vans was 250 fatalities per million 
registered vehicles compared to 151 fatalities per million of 
all other registered vehicles.
    Safety belts dramatically increase the chances of survival 
during a rollover crash. Nearly 80 percent of those people who 
died in 15-passenger van rollovers nationwide between 1990 and 
2003 were not buckled up.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 964 seeks to promote the safe operation of 15-
passenger vans on our nation's roads. H. Res. 964 resolves that 
the House of Representatives recognizes the need for awareness 
regarding the increased risks of driving 15-passenger vans and 
encourages any operator of such vehicle to provide adequate 
training for drivers and safety information, including the 
necessity for wearing safety belts, to passengers.

            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On February 7, 2008, Representative John J. Duncan, Jr. 
introduced H. Res. 964. This resolution has not been introduced 
in a previous Congress.
    On February 28, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure met in open session to consider the resolution. 
The Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute to the resolution and ordered the resolution, as 
amended, reported favorably to the House by voice vote.

                              RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives 
requires each committee report to include the total number of 
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to 
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, 
and the names of those members voting for and against. There 
were no recorded votes taken in connection with the amendment 
offered to H. Res. 964 or with ordering H. Res. 964 reported. A 
motion to order H. Res. 964, as amended, reported favorably to 
the House was agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(d)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 964 
is a resolution of the House of Representatives and therefore 
does not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost 
associated with this resolution for fiscal year 2008, or for 
any fiscal year thereafter.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
clause 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no comparison of the total estimated 
funding level for the relevant programs to the appropriate 
levels under current law is required.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and 
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding. Neither a cost estimate nor comparison for 
any measure that authorizes funding is required.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, H. Res. 964 does not contain any 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    With respect to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, H. Res. 964 is a resolution of 
the House of Representatives and therefore does not have the 
force of law. As such, clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII does not 
apply.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    H. Res. 964 contains no Federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 964 does not 
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
resolution.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 
104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    H. Res. 964 makes no changes to existing law.

                                  
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