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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 964 Introduced in House (IH)]

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;
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;
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
    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 on such a vehicle to provide adequate training for 
drivers and safety information, including the necessity for wearing 
seat belts, to passengers.
                                 <all>
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