Washington – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding drivers of 15-passenger vans to take precautions against rollover crashes.
15-passenger vans have unique handling characteristics due to their size, as well as a higher risk of rolling over if improperly operated by an inexperienced driver, NHTSA said in a press release. Tips (.pdf file) to reduce the risk of rollover crashes when driving a 15-passenger van include:
- Check the tires before each trip to ensure they are properly inflated and not excessively worn. Do not rely on old spare tires to replace worn ones.
- Do not allow more people and cargo in the van than the maximum limits.
- Ensure passengers wear their safety belts and inspect the belts regularly. Unrestrained users of 15-passenger vans are approximately 3 times more likely than restrained users to be killed in a single-vehicle crash.
