It’s a question that often arises after a 15-passenger van is involved in an accident. Very often, these accidents involve rollovers which have a much higher risk of injuries and fatalities. However, although the design of a 15-passenger van does involve a higher risk of rollover, these vans can be operated safely, with experienced and trained operators at the wheel.
If you currently own a 15-passenger van, there are steps that you can take to reduce the risk of rollover involving a vehicle. Make sure that your tires are inflated properly. Tires must be the right size for the vehicle, and must be capable of carrying the passenger load that you are planning to carry in your van. Ensure that your 15-passenger van is never overloaded. Also remember that the risk of a rollover accident increases with the number of passengers you have in your van. A van with between 10 and 15 occupants in the van is likely to be at a higher risk of rollover, than a van that has less than five occupants.
Tire safety is crucial to the safe operation of a 15-passenger van. Check your tires every day, and look for tire inflation levels and worn-out tires. Get your van operated only by an experienced van driver, who has experience handling these types of vehicles. There are challenges involved in driving a 15-passenger van that can increase the risk of an accident when the van is being operated by a person who is not experienced handling these vehicles.
The National Transportation Safety Board estimates that between the years 1991 and 2000, 15-passenger vans were involved in approximately.22% of all fatal accidents in the country. That might not seem like a very significant number, until you consider the fact that in more than half of the cases, these vans rolled over when they were involved in an accident. The average for rollovers is only approximately 30% for other types of vehicles.
