1	15 PASSENGER VANS Adapted from NHTSA SAFETY STUDY
2	15 Passenger Vans Fifteen-passenger vans are in widespread use for the transportation of college sports teams, van pools, church outings, hotel shuttles, and other similar groups. There have been a number of widely-publicized single vehicle crashes that have involved fifteen-passenger vans in the last year. All but one of these crashes have involved rollover of the fifteen-passenger van.
3	15 Passenger Vans Fifteen-passenger vans differ from most light truck vehicles in that they have a large payload capacity and the occupants sit fairly high up in the vehicle. Therefore, when loaded the vehicle may have a much worse rollover propensity than when unloaded.
4	NHTSA Study This study was performed using the crash data from Florida, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah for crash years 1994 through 1997. The calculated rollover ratios are ratios of the numbers of rollovers to the numbers of all single vehicle crashes.
5	NHTSA Study Looking at all rollovers, regardless of the number of vehicle occupants, fifteen-passenger vans have almost the same rollover ratio as does a comparison group: all light trucks and vans (LTVs). The rollover ratios were observed over four categories of occupancy levels: under 5, 5-9, 10-15 and over 15 occupants.
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8	NHSTA Study As seen in Table 1, the propensity to roll over increases with the occupancy level. It can be inferred from Table 1 that a fifteen-passenger van that has over 15 occupants runs almost six times the risk of rolling over as compared to a fifteen-passenger van that has less than 5 occupants (70.0 vs. 12.3 rollovers per 100 crashes), when involved in a single vehicle crash.
9	NHTSA Study When confining the analysis to two groups, less than 10 occupants and 10 or more occupants, the rollover ratio for the vehicles with 10 occupants or more occupants is almost 3 times (35.4 percent vs. 12.7 percent) that of vehicles with less than 10 occupants.
10	NHTSA Study Loading the vehicles to GVW has an adverse affect on the rollover propensity due to the increase in center-of-gravity height. Loading the vans with passengers and cargo also moves the center of gravity rearward, increasing the vertical load on the rear tires. Table 5 contains values for longitudinal distance from the front axle to the center of gravity, a, and for percent weight on the rear axle.
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12	NHTSA Study The simulated GVW fifteen-passenger van exhibits both lateral and roll instabilities under extreme maneuvers. The facts that the center of gravity is higher and further rearward both contribute to the lateral instability. The roll instability results from the facts that the GVW vehicle spins out and that the center of gravity is higher. Note that these instabilities are probably not unique to fifteen-passenger vans; other vehicles with high payload to empty weight ratios may well have similar instabilities.
13	NHTSA Study All three sizes of vans for which rollover propensity metrics were measured during NHTSA’s field tests had an increase in rollover propensity, measured using SSF, (static stability factor) from the driver-only loading condition to the 15-occupant loading condition. However, the effects of occupant loading were greater for the fifteen-passenger van than for the seven-passenger van or the minivan.
14	NHTSA Study In measuring the inertial parameters of a fully loaded fifteen-passenger van versus a lightly loaded van, the decrease in stability under the fully-loaded condition correlates to an increase in the rollover risk of approximately 40 percent.
15	Weight Distribution
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24	Minimum Driver Standards Acceptable Driving Record Completion of on-line training session Avoid driver distractions (cell phone, two way radios, etc.)
25	Monitor Program Regular MVR reviews Motorist complaints Passenger complaints Employee complaints or comments Equipment damage/misuse Accident/incident investigation
26	FINAL STEP Print the 15-passenger van certification form from the last slide Complete the certification form and forward it to VP of Finance and Operations Request use of 15-passenger van through normal process for requesting use of college vehicles
27	Questions and Comments Forward any questions to Vice President of Finance and Operations
28	THANKS!!! Thank you for taking the time to help the college meet the requirements set by our fleet insurance carrier.
29	Certification of Completion 15-Passenger Van Training I certify that I have viewed the complete Northeast Mississippi Community College 15-Passenger Van Training Session as presented by the college. I do understand the material as printed and am comfortable with driving a 15-passenger van for the college. As an authorized college driver, I will follow accepted safe driving practices and will take reasonable precautions when operating any college vehicle. _____________________________ ________________ (Signature) (Date) ____________________________ (Printed Name) *Forward completed form to the Secretary for Vice President of Finance and Operation in the Business Office before requesting a 15-passenger van. Request for use of college vehicles are processed through the normal procedures of the college.