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Consumer group urges schools, community groups to stop using 15-passenger vans
September 27, 2005
A fatal 15-passenger van crash in Utah prompted the Public Citizen consumer group to again call for universities, churches, seniors' homes and other groups to discontinue their use of the dangerous vehicles until they are made safer.
The driver of the 15-passenger van lost control of the vehicle when a tire blew, ejecting all 11 passengers after the van rolled into a ravine. Nine of the passengers have died. The majority of riders were freshman at Utah State University.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned the public that 15-passenger vans have a rollover risk that increases dramatically as the number of riders increase from fewer to five to more than 10. The federal agency reissued a consumer advisory regarding 15-passenger vans for the third time in four years in May.
GuideOne Insurance has recommended if using the 15-passenger vans that less than 10 people ride in them because of the potentially fatal rollover risks. They also recommended that people sit in the forward seat first, and rear seats be removed to increase the van's stability. Because the dangers of the vehicles are so well known, some insurance companies are even refusing to insure them.
This past summer, Congress passed an extensive highway bill, H.R. 3, which mandated new rules to limit the propensity of passenger vehicles, including 15-passenger vans, to roll over. While the highway bill is a step in the right direction, vehicles will not be affected by the new rules for five to seven years.
Until stronger rules involving 15-passenger vans take effect, Public Citizen is urging schools and community organizations to take matters into their own hands to avoid any more tragedies from occurring and stop using the vehicles.
For more information on crashworthiness, contact us to confer with an attorney.
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