IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 964 

To promote the safe operation of 15 passenger vans. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 7, 2008 

Mr. DUNCAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

RESOLUTION 

To promote the safe operation of 15 passenger vans. 

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 resulted from 

largely preventable single vehicle rollover crashes of such 

vans; 


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•HRES 964 IH 

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 vans 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 15-passenger vans was 250 per million registered 

vehicles compared to 151 per million for 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, 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 nearly 80 percent of those who died in 15-passenger van rollovers nationwide between 1990 and 2003 were not buckled up; 


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

Whereas driver education and training, and general awareness of the dangers of these vans are the only effective 

means of reducing the death rates of these existing vans: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog2 nizes the need for awareness regarding the increased risks 

3 of driving 15-passenger vans and encourages any operator 

4 of such a vehicle or person who provides transportation 

5 on such a vehicle to provide adequate training for drivers 

6 and safety information, including the necessity for wearing 

7 seat belts, to passengers. 

Æ 


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