15 Passenger Van Rollover Risk
Fifteen
Passenger Van Policy
UFEHS-VAN-09/10/01
Environmental
Health & Safety
Administrative
Affairs
University
of Florida
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this policy is to reduce the risk of accident and
possible injury or death associated with the operation of Fifteen
passenger vans. Risk reduction is achieved through assurance that
vans will only be operated by safe and knowledgeable drivers, that vans are in
proper and safe working order and that all passengers use passenger restraint
systems when the vehicle is in operation.
AUTHORITY:
Environmental Health and Safety, Office of
Administration and Finance
FIFTEEN
PASSENGER VAN POLICY:
All operators of UF owned
or leased Fifteen passenger
vans shall possess a valid drivers license and maintain a good driving
record. Operators must attend an approved van operators training
session prior to operating a 15 passenger-van (exception: operators that
possess a valid Commercial Drivers License, CDL, do not need to participate
in the training). Vehicles will be routinely inspected through annual
safety checks and operational safety checks. Vehicles will be removed from
service if conditions are found that will impair the safe operation of the
vehicle or the safety of its occupants.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Environmental
Health and Safety (EH&S) is
responsible for coordination of drivers license checks and approval of
drivers based on these checks. EH&S will maintain a database of
all drivers approved to operate 15-passenger vans. EH&S will
provide access to computer based training that may be used as a substitute
for classroom instruction.
- Departments
are responsible for identifying staff, students and volunteers that have a
need to operate 15-passenger vans. Departments are responsible for
ensuring only approved drivers operate 15-passenger vans. Departments
are responsible for submitting a copy of the drivers license for each
intended operator to EH&S for license check. Departments are
responsible for assuring that each operator has received the approved,
required training. Departments are responsible for inspecting,
servicing and maintaining their vehicle in safe working order and ensuring
that all vehicle occupants use passenger-restraint devices.
- The
Physical Plant Division is
responsible for ensuring the annual comprehensive safety check is conducted
on all UF owned vehicles and removing unsafe vehicles from service.
- Employees
are responsible for attending training and following the instructions given.
They are also responsible for providing accurate information about past
driving status and new convictions should they occur.
BACKGROUND
Studies
conducted by the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration (NHSTA)
of the US Department of Transportation reveal that loaded
Fifteen passenger vans have significantly higher risk of rollover than
passenger cars and light trucks. Loading the vans raises the center of
gravity and shifts it towards the rear greatly affecting the handling
characteristics. When heavily loaded the steering characteristics and
responsiveness are very different form light passenger vehicles, this can cause
serious consequences in an emergency situation when an untrained driver expects
the vehicle to respond like a car.
Driving
large vans requires skill and experience from the operator, with little or no
margin of error. The 15-Fifteen
Passenger Vans must also be in proper working order to reduce the
likelihood of involvement in an accident. The vehicles must receive a
formal operational inspections by the operator to demonstrate due diligence.
Each vehicle must undergo an annual inspection by a mechanic to ensure hidden
defects are identified that could contribute to the risk of vehicle accident.
NHSTA has
shown that the chance of survival in a rollover type accident is greatly
enhanced by the proper use of seatbelts.
PROGRAM ELEMENTS
1)
License Check and Review: Departments will submit a copy of the
drivers license for each intended driver to EH&S. Drivers with out of
state or international licenses shall complete and sign the Driver History form.
Drivers with three or more moving violations in the three year review period
shall not be permitted to operate fifteen passenger vans. EH&S will
provide results of the check to the requesting department with a letter stating
the outcome of the review. EH&S will bear the costs associated with
the license check and review.
2) Training: Drivers
not possessing a CDL must participate in a drivers training program approved by
the University. Additional training may be required by departments if special skills are required (e.g.
pulling a trailer).
3)
Inspection: Each vehicle must be included in the annual Safety Inspection
performed by the PPD Motor Pool or for non-Alachua County facilities by a local
mechanic using PPD inspection criteria. Fifteen-passenger vans may not be
equipped with roof racks. At a minimum, vans used for long trips (e.g.
greater than 100 miles roundtrip) must receive an operational inspection by the
driver before each trip. The PPD Motor Pool can provide a pre-trip check upon
request and appointment Vehicles used primarily on campus/locally
the van must be inspected each time the vehicle is refueled. The driver should
use the Inspection Log to document the inspection process.
4)
Operational Requirements: All Fifteen
Passenger Van occupants must use seatbelts. On long trips the
number of approved drivers should match the expected trip duration to prevent
driver fatigue and inattention. No single driver should drive more than 8
hours in a single day.
Click
Here for more information about 15 Passenger Van
Rollover Accidents
FIFTEEN
PASSENGER VAN ROLLOVER & ROOF COLLAPSE LAWSUITS
 If
you or a member of
your family has been involved in a Fifteen
(15) Passenger van rollover accident or other truck or suv
rollover with severe roof crush,
roof pillar collapse failure or any
other serious accident or
failure and you have questions about whether the vehicle or roof
design may caused or contributed to the accident or injuries,
then call us now. Mr. Willis is a Board Certified
Personal Injury Attorney with over 20 years of product liability and
rollover litigation experience.Call the Willis Law Firm at 1-800-883-9858 for
a Free & Confidential Consultation or Click
Here
PLEASE NOTE: The statements and information provided on this web site are for the informational purposes only. This law firm is not affiliated in any way with any trademark owner. The use of any trademarks on this site is for product identification and information purposes only .This webpage is provided to you to assist in SUV Rollover accidents, passenger van rollovers, 15 passenger van rollover accidents, recalls, truck accidents & rollovers, tire tread defects, tire separations, roof crush and roof pillar collapse, seat belt failures, fuel fed fires and other related rollover accident issues, including rollover injuries and deaths.This site is not intended to provide legal advice to the reader and NO attorney-client relationship shall be deemed to arise from the receipt this page and/or its associated pages or any oral or e-mail communication to or from with the Willis Law Firm. There will be NO lawsuits filed, claims made, letters or phone calls made for a prospective client, until that person is represented by the firm. An attorney client relationship only arises after the attorney and client have signed a written attorney client contract.
Mr. Willis is licensed attorney in New York and Texas. He is a Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Lawyer, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Read more about Board Certification, Click Here. Principle office is Houston, Texas.
Mr. Willis has represented clients in personal injury, auto accident, suv rollover, van & truck rollovers and other product liability and negligence cases from across the United States, including clients from Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin & West Virginia.
Further, any statement or reference to past personal injury, products liability or SUV rollover lawsuits, settlements or verdicts should NOT be relied upon in one's own case or in your decision on which law firm to hire. All client's cases, facts, injuries, damages, venues and lawsuits are different and there is NO way to predict the outcome of a particular case, verdict of a jury or judge or the strength of a case before a judge, jury or the appellate court system. The client is responsible for all of their own medical expenses. All cases are handled on a contingent fee basis. NO attorneys fees or case costs charged to client, unless a recovery is made for the client. Often in very serious and catastrophic injury and death cases Mr. Willis may associate with another products liability attorney as co-counsel and in other matters, the case may be referred. In cases where a legal matter is referred, Mr. Willis will continue to maintain joint responsibility with the handling attorney or lead counsel and actively monitor the progress and development of the case. Due to his 22+ years of experience in personal injury and products liability cases, Mr. Willis will often continue to assist in working with the hired experts and engineers and in research of the defective product or other related legal matters in the case.
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