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-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; 
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-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 
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; 
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•HRES 964 IH 
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 
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. 
Æ 
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