15-passenger vans are a great way to transport many people at once, but the vehicles can be poorly engineered and passengers are at risk to a serious rollover accident. Oftentimes churches, sports teams, college students, high school students, and day care facilities use these large vans to caravan to a nearby location. The vans are able to accommodate 15 people and often it is simpler for organizations to transport passengers this way rather than hire a large bus.
Yet because of their build and the weight carried inside, these vans are at a high likelihood to a rollover. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the back wheels on a 15-passenger van can wear and erode faster than those on a smaller car. Sometimes, a tire burst can cause an accident and the center of gravity can shift, causing the van to roll on the freeway.
The National Safety Council reports that 15-passenger vans have unique handling characteristics because of their size and they have a high risk of rolling over if they are improperly operated by an inexperienced driver. All drivers should check the tires before each and every trip in the van in order to ensure that the tires are properly inflated and not excessively worn.
Research shows that 15-passenger vans carrying more than 10 passengers are at a higher risk to a rollover than those that have less than 10. Despite the fact that these vans are designed to carry 15 people, a higher population inside of the van can run the risk of an accident. Individuals should never overload the van beyond 15 passengers, as this will ruin the center of gravity. As well, individuals should never overload the vans with luggage on the roof or with luggage strapped to the back of the car. Passengers should always sit closer to the front of the vehicle, rather than towards the back where the tires can be worn.
Whenever individuals ride in 15-passenger vans, it is essential that they wear seatbelts. Owners of the vans should inspect the belts regularly to make sure that they are working well. Unstrained users of 15-passenger vans are about 3 times more likely than restrained users to be killed in a single-vehicle crash.
According to CBS News, the 15-passenger van is one of the most dangerous vehicles out on the road. Some insurers say that they won't even cover 15-passenger vans because the risk of an accident is so large. Some universities have banned the vans from campus and choose instead to transport sports teams on large buses that are safer.
Still, the large cans are used often at day care centers, park & ride locations, the YMCA, the post office, and the Disabilities American Veterans association. There are approximately 500,000 of these vans out on the road. Since 1990 reports show that at least 424 people have been killed in and hundreds have been seriously injured in rollover accidents. Because the vans normally transport many people, the risk for injury or death is higher and affects a larger group of individuals.
Tires need to be inspected before every single drive to make sure that they are not cracked, worn, or at risk to bursting. Also, drivers of 15-passenger vans should be specially trained to handle this task and should have certification so that they can drive the van. The large vehicles can be hard to maneuver, and should not be driven by an individual that only has a normal driver's license. If you want more information about these vans or if you were involved in an accident then you need to contact a local car accident lawyer to assist you in seeking compensation. Use this directory to find an attorney near you!