IV 
House Calendar No. 210 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 964 
[Report No. 110–608] 
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 
APRIL 29, 2008 
Reported with amendments, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered to 
be printed 
[Strike out the preamble and insert the part printed in italic] 
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
RESOLUTION 
To promote the safe operation of 15 passenger vans. 
Whereas an organization that owns or operates a 15-pas-
senger 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 dif-
ferently than other passenger vehicles; 
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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-pas-
senger 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 be-
cause 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 reg-
istered vehicles; 
Whereas impressing upon 15-passenger van drivers the inher-
ent dangers of operating these vehicles, particularly when 
fully loaded, and educating them about proper handling 
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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 per-
cent of those who died in 15-passenger van rollovers na-
tionwide between 1990 and 2003 were not buckled up; 
Whereas in fatal, single vehicle rollovers involving 15-pas-
senger vans over the past decade, 91 percent of occu-
pants wearing seat belts survived; and 
Whereas driver education and training, and general aware-
ness of the dangers of these vans are the only effective 
means of reducing the death rates of these existing vans: 
Now, therefore, be it 
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 charac-
teristics 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 Ad-
ministration, from 1997 through 2006, there were 1,090 fa-
talities 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-pas-
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senger van crashes occurred in single-vehicle rollover crash-
es, which is higher than the rollover fatality rates for any 
other passenger vehicle type; 
Whereas 15-passenger vans require special driving skills be-
cause they are larger, with higher centers of gravity, which 
makes them less stable than vehicles such as cars, espe-
cially 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 dif-
ficult to handle and less stable; 
Whereas the death rate for all occupants was higher for 15-pas-
senger vans than for other passenger vehicle types com-
bined; 
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 inher-
ent 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; 
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Whereas in fatal, single-vehicle rollover crashes involving 15- 
passenger vans over the past decade, 91 percent of occu-
pants 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog-
nizes 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. 
That the House of Representatives recognizes the need for 
awareness regarding the increased risks of driving 15-pas-
senger 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 informa-
tion, including the necessity for wearing safety belts, to pas-
sengers. 
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘Resolution pro-
moting the safe operation of 15-passenger vans.’’. 
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House Calendar No. 210 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 964 
[Report No. 110–608] 
RESOLUTION 
To promote the safe operation of 15 passenger 
vans. 
APRIL 29, 2008 
Reported with amendments, referred to the House 
Calendar and ordered to be printed 
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