Error processing SSI file
Feds urge van caution
Comment on this story
For the fourth time since 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned Thursday that 15-passenger vans need to be operated with extreme caution.
New research indicates that 74 percent of all 15-passenger vans in the United States were likely to have "significantly mis-inflated" tires, compared with 39 percent of cars. NHTSA said improperly inflated tires can change handling characteristics and increase the likelihood of a rollover.
The risk of a rollover rises dramatically as the vans carry more people, the agency previously warned. With 10 or more occupants, the vans roll over three times as frequently as with fewer than five passengers.
"The risks associated with 15-passenger vans can be minimized if users take some basic safety precautions," said NHTSA administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge.
Copyright © 2005
The Detroit News.
Use of this site indicates your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 12/19/2002).