A History of the 15 Passenger Van For Sale

Are you looking for a van large enough to transport over 10 passengers? Very few things are as woven into our culture quite like vehicles are. Some people are Ford fans. Some people are Chevrolet fans. Some people like Italian sports cars. Some people like Sport Utility Vehicles. One vehicle in particular that has a unique place in culture is the passenger van. The passenger van first emerged in the late 1960’s as an answer to the problem of transporting a large group of people. Many churches and organizations across the country have used  passenger vans ever since. However, the rise of  passenger vans has not come without it’s own set of dangers.church bus, Mini Bus, Limo Bus, Shuttle Bus, Wheelchair Bus, Propane Bus, 15 passenger bus

Safety Issues with Large Passenger Vans is Big News These Days.

Over the last couple of decades there has been a sharp rise in the number of large passenger van fatalities. Due to the extended length combined with the height of the van, the vehicle has inherent safety issues. Schools and churches have been hit the hardest as they often have the greatest need of carrying large groups of people. The success of Carpenter Bus Sales has been in direct response to organizations looking to get out of large vans and get into a safer vehicle like a commercial bus.

Here are several key things to know:

• Because of the safety risks involved, federal law prohibits the sale of larger passenger vans for the school-related transport of high school age and younger students.
• Many states have passed regulations limiting the use these vans.
• Many institutions have already set deadlines for discontinuing these large vans.
• The nation’s leading insurer of churches has stated that large passenger vans “are inherently unsafe as currently used by many owners.” They highly encourage “all organizations to strongly consider other transportation options.”
• The rollover risk, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), is 35% when loaded with 10-15 passengers, and 70% when loaded with 16 or more passengers!
• From 1990-2003, 424 people lost their lives in van rollover accidents and hundreds more have been seriously injured.
• See also: www.vanangels.com

 Large Passenger Vans versus a Large Passenger Bus

One of the primary differences in large passenger vans and large passenger buses is the dual rear wheels. Adding dual rear wheels to any vehicles automatically makes it more stable with a wider base to keep the vehicle steadier. Both vehicles are taller than standard vehicles and have a higher profile.  Compensation must be made to offset the extra height. Having dual rear wheels creates a lower center of gravity making large passenger buses much safer than large passenger vans in that regard.

Another difference is that the vans have a higher entry point on the side door while the buses offer a much lower entry step. The lower entry step is achieved by having a lower floor in the bus. Because of the lower floor, large passenger buses have the ability for passengers to be able to stand up (should not be done while the bus is in transit.) This comfort is not available on the large vans. Larger vans come standard with bench seats and a very narrow right side aisle. large passenger buses, in contrast, come standard with individual bucket seats and a center aisle.

What’s the Solution?

Replace your older, dangerous large passenger van with a safe, large passenger bus that meets Federal Safety specifications. Carpenter Bus Sales has been helping organizations since 1953 with their transportation needs. Let us help you!