NHTSA Warning: Passengers at Serious Risk in Tour Van Accidents

July 07, 2011

With several fatal accidents recently occurring across the U.S., government officials and public safety advocates have maintained a heavy focus on preventing tour bus accidents through legislation and safety awareness. A tour bus accident can be especially tragic, as they may contain upwards of 60 passengers. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has urged people to also stay aware of the deadly danger presented by the charter buses' little cousin: the 15-passenger tour van.

Most people in Utah are quite familiar with the 15-passenger van, as they can be seen travelling all over the state. Out-of-state visitors and foreign tourists often choose the tour van as their preferred vehicle for seeing Utah's majestic sites, as it allows them to enjoy carefree travels with friends or family. However, this seemingly ideal vehicle can quickly turn into a steel deathtrap when the tour-van company or driver doesn't properly maintain or operate the mini-bus.

Consumer Advisory on Passenger-Van Rollovers

The NHTSA's consumer advisory bulletin cautioned that a 15-passenger van has a propensity to rollover, often leaving its occupants dead or seriously injured. The advisory explains that tire safety is an essential aspect of tour bus accident prevention. It explains that worn tires need to be replaced to avoid a dangerous tire blowout or tread separation. Proper inflation is another key component to preventing passenger-van rollovers.

This isn't the first time the government has warned of fatal van accidents. The NHTSA has taken note of recent tour bus injuries in Utah, Georgia and New York. Utah's touring-van accident on I-15 killed three tourists from Japan and left other passengers with serious injuries. In that crash, the van driver was driving fatigued, had illegal drugs in his system and was driving without his prescribed eyeglasses. To avoid such fatal van accidents, the NHTSA issued some additional safety tips for tour-van owners and drivers:
- Do not use 15-passenger vans to transport children to and from school. These vans do not meet safety standards as they are significantly more dangerous than traditional school buses.
- Properly maintain and inspect the vehicle regularly.
- Van drivers should be fully trained, licensed and experienced before transporting passengers.
- Do not overload the vehicle. Exceeding tour-van weight limits makes the mini-bus more likely to rollover.
- Use safe tires that are properly inflated. Never use spare tires on the vehicle.
- Ensure that all passengers wear their safety belt.

It wasn't just a few horrific accidents that caused the NHTSA to issue another 15-passenger-van warning. As statistics indicate, the recent fatal rollovers are emblematic of a greater safety concern.

15-Passenger Van Accident Statistics

The NHTSA isn't the only government agency concerned with tour-van safety. Several years ago, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) compiled a safety alert aimed at warning the public about the dangers of passenger injuries in tour vans. Some of the eye-opening statistics in the safety alert explain that:
- In a ten-year span there were over 1,500 fatal crashes involving passenger vans (1994-2004);
- Of that ten-year span, 515 were van rollovers;
- In a single year, 120 people were killed in U.S. tour-van accidents (2004);
- A 15-passenger van is three times more likely to rollover when containing 10 or more passengers.

As the statistics indicate, 15-passenger vans have a documented propensity to rollover and seriously injure or kill their occupants. While the full-size tour bus may continue to get more attention because of its potential for larger-scale devastation, the 15-passenger bus is much more likely to kill its occupants in the event of an accident.

Tour-Van Accident Victims in Utah

Because of its booming tourist industry, Utah has a higher probability of 15-passenger van crashes than most other states. While many of the tour-van passengers are visiting from other U.S. states, a good amount of van passengers are from Japan, China, Korea or South America. There have also been documented tour-van injuries to visitors from the United Kingdom and Europe, including Germany (Deutschland), England (Great Britain), and Holland (Nederland).

Unlike domestic travelers, foreign travelers may not be aware of their legal rights in the wake of a passenger-van accident. Sadly, they may bear the financial burden of medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, or damages recoverable through a wrongful death claim simply because they are unaware of their legal rights.

A nonimmigrant tourist does not need to be a U.S. citizen to recover damages from a Utah tour-van or tour-bus accident. Further, a foreign visitor need not be in the U.S. to contact and partner with a personal injury attorney located in Utah. A reputable and experienced personal injury attorney will take the time to effectively communicate with the victim or surviving family and help them explore their legal options after a bus or van accident.

Article provided by Eisenberg & Gilchrist
Visit us at www.eisenbergandgilchrist.com