[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 964 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                        April 30, 2008.
Whereas an organization that owns or operates a 15-passenger van should not 
        allow an inexperienced driver of such a van to drive the van because 
        design and handling characteristics of a 15-passenger van make it drive 
        differently than other passenger vehicles;
Whereas the safety records of drivers experienced in driving a 15-passenger van 
        are significantly better than drivers not experienced in driving such a 
        van;
Whereas according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 
        1997 through 2006, there were 1,090 fatalities of van occupants 
        resulting from crashes involving 15-passenger vans of which 534 
        fatalities resulted from largely preventable single-vehicle rollover 
        crashes of such vans;
Whereas according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2005, 59 
        percent of the fatalities in 15-passenger van crashes occurred in 
        single-vehicle rollover crashes, which is higher than the rollover 
        fatality rates for any other passenger vehicle type;
Whereas 15-passenger vans require special driving skills because they are 
        larger, with higher centers of gravity, which makes them less stable 
        than vehicles such as cars, especially if the van is heavily loaded;
Whereas adding passengers in a 15-passenger van increases the center of gravity, 
        causing the van to be increasingly difficult to handle and less stable;
Whereas the death rate for all occupants was higher for 15-passenger vans than 
        for other passenger vehicle types combined;
Whereas during the period 2001 through 2005, the death rate for occupants of 15-
        passenger vans was 250 fatalities per million registered vehicles 
        compared to 151 fatalities per million of all other registered vehicles;
Whereas impressing upon 15-passenger van drivers the inherent dangers of 
        operating these vehicles, particularly when fully loaded, and educating 
        them about proper handling and control, particularly during emergency 
        situations, can reduce the risk of rollover, and such training can also 
        help dispel the expectation that these vans operate like large passenger 
        cars;
Whereas wearing safety belts dramatically increases the chances of survival 
        during a rollover crash;
Whereas nearly 80 percent of those who died in 15-passenger van rollovers 
        nationwide between 1990 and 2003 were not buckled up;
Whereas in fatal, single-vehicle rollover crashes involving 15-passenger vans 
        over the past decade, 91 percent of occupants wearing safety belts 
        survived; and
Whereas driver education and training, and general awareness of the dangers of 
        these vans are effective means of reducing the death rates of occupants 
        of 15-passenger vans: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the need for 
awareness regarding the increased risks of driving 15-passenger vans and 
encourages any operator of such a vehicle or person who provides transportation 
in such a vehicle to provide adequate training for drivers and safety 
information, including the necessity for wearing safety belts, to passengers.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.