H. Res. 964 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

April 30, 2008. 

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, 
2 

•HRES 964 EH 

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 
3 

•HRES 964 EH 

Resolved, 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. 

Attest: 

Clerk.