In spite of warnings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about the inherent dangers of 15-passenger vans, they continue to be driven on highways and freeways, often transporting young children to and from events. One study by Quality Control Systems Corporation concluded that, in fact, the number of accidents has risen since the warnings were issued. Other studies claim that the numbers have dropped.
Regardless of statistics, the fact remains that there are still many unsafe 15-passenger vans on the road. Each year more lives are lost in accidents that might have been avoided in a more stable vehicle.
Why are these vans so deadly?
- The center of balance is off. When these vans were designed, they were simply extended in the rear, so when they are fully loaded to capacity, the center of gravity shifts significantly upward and to the rear. In an emergency maneuver, the van is extremely hard to handle. Fishtailing is common and the driver can easily loose control causing the van to overturn.
- A number of these vans have been found with mis-inflated and/or bald tires as well. Wear and tear on tires seems to be more extreme on 15-passenger vans than on other passenger vehicles, probably because of the heavy loads they carry. Tire safety is essential for these types of vans. If even one tire is bald, overinflated or underinflated, it substantially increases the risk of an accident.
- The fuller the van, the higher the risk of the van losing control and rolling over in an emergency maneuver.
- Drivers don’t need a school bus license to drive a 15-passenger van so the chances of having an inexperienced driver who is unaware of the maneuverability issues of these vans is greater.
Who sells these vans?
Ford sells most of the 15-passenger vans in the U.S. These include models of the Ford E-Series, the Ford 350, Club Wagon E350, and the Ford Econoline. Other makes include the Dodge Ram Wagon B350 and Ram Van/Wagon B3500, the Chevrolet Express 3500, the GMC Savana 3500, and Rally/Vandura G3500.
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