Click here to read original article on The Center for Auto Safety website
Stella Gurr, one of the founders who lost her son Michael in a 15-passenger Ford van rollover explains:
“As safety advocates we have educated ourselves on the history and current status of 15-passenger vans through extensive research and active lobbying at all governmental levels. The recent tragedy in Florida is not only upsetting but extremely infuriating as the carnage continues and no one will take responsibility for these 'death traps'. Yes, they were built over 50 years ago to carry cargo on the floor and when the auto manufacturers chose to install seats and windows, they did not redesign the vans for human transport! It was a marketing decision to create an inexpensive mode of transport that was larger than a mini-van and smaller than a larger bus. It was basically 'profit over people'.
Our Van Angels group pressured Transport Canada (NHTSA in the US) to test the safety of the vans. As far as we are concerned they did not reveal anything new as it is pure physics and design that determines how the 15-passenger van handles in real-world emergency situations (and as far as we know , physics hasn't changed.) The Safety Review was an exercise in electronic stability control standard testing in certain multi-passenger vehicles. But ESC is not fail-proof and does not help in certain handling manoeuvres. It is a good safety standard but there are approximately 25,000 registered 15-passenger vans on Canadian roads and government documents show that almost 80% do not have ESC! Both industry and government praise this safety addition but fail to mention all the vehicles on our roads that are lacking this feature.”
www.vanangels.ca
