[DOCID: f:hr608.110]
From the House Reports Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-608
======================================================================
PROMOTING THE SAFE OPERATION OF 15-PASSENGER VANS
_______
April 29, 2008.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
_______
Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Res. 964]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 964) to promote the safe
operation of 15-passenger vans, having considered the same,
report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the
resolution as amended be agreed to.
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the
following:
That the House of Representatives recognizes the need for awareness
regarding the increased risks of driving 15-passenger vans and
encourages any operator of such a vehicle or person who provides
transportation in such a vehicle to provide adequate training for
drivers and safety information, including the necessity for wearing
safety belts, to passengers.
Amend the preamble to read as follows:
Whereas an organization that owns or operates a 15-passenger van should not
allow an inexperienced driver of such a van to drive the van because design
and handling characteristics of a 15-passenger van make it drive
differently than other passenger vehicles;
Whereas the safety records of drivers experienced in driving a 15-passenger
van are significantly better than drivers not experienced in driving such a
van;
Whereas according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
from 1997 through 2006 there were 1,090 fatalities of van occupants
resulting from crashes involving 15-passenger vans of which 534 fatalities
resulted from largely preventable single-vehicle rollover crashes of such
vans;
Whereas according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in 2005,
59 percent of the fatalities in 15-passenger van crashes occurred in
single-vehicle rollover crashes, which is higher than the rollover fatality
rates for any other passenger vehicle type;
Whereas 15-passenger vans require special driving skills because they are
larger, with higher centers of gravity, which makes them less stable than
vehicles such as cars, especially if the van is heavily loaded;
Whereas adding passengers in a 15-passenger van increases the center of
gravity, causing the van to be increasingly difficult to handle and less
stable;
Whereas the death rate for all occupants was higher for 15-passenger vans
than for other passenger vehicle types combined;
Whereas during the period 2001 through 2005, the death rate for occupants
of 15-passenger vans was 250 fatalities per million registered vehicles
compared to 151 fatalities per million of all other registered vehicles;
Whereas impressing upon 15-passenger van drivers the inherent dangers of
operating these vehicles, particularly when fully loaded, and educating
them about proper handling and control, particularly during emergency
situations, can reduce the risk of rollover, and such training can also
help dispel the expectation that these vans operate like large passenger
cars;
Whereas wearing safety belts dramatically increases the chances of survival
during a rollover crash;
Whereas nearly 80 percent of those who died in 15-passenger van rollovers
nationwide between 1990 and 2003 were not buckled up;
Whereas in fatal, single-vehicle rollover crashes involving 15-passenger
vans over the past decade, 91 percent of occupants wearing safety belts
survived; and
Whereas driver education and training, and general awareness of the dangers
of these vans are effective means of reducing the death rates of occupants
of 15-passenger vans: Now, therefore, be it
Amend the title so as to read:
Resolution promoting the safe operation of 15-passenger vans.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
H. Res. 964 seeks to promote the safe operation of 15-
passenger vans on our nation's roads, recognizes the need for
awareness regarding the increased risks of driving 15-passenger
vans and encourages any operator of such vehicle to provide
adequate training for drivers and safety information, including
the necessity for wearing safety belts, to passengers.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Fifteen passenger vans require special driving skills
because they are larger, with higher centers of gravity which
make them less stable than vehicles such as cars, especially if
the van is heavily loaded. An organization that owns or
operates a 15-passenger van should not allow an inexperienced
driver of such a van to drive the van because design and
handling characteristics of a 15-passenger van make it drive
differently than other passenger vehicles.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, from 1997 through 2006, there were 1,090
fatalities of van occupants resulting from crashes involving
15-passenger vans of which 534 resulted from largely
preventable single-vehicle rollover crashes of such vans.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in
2005, 59 percent of the fatalities in 15-passenger van crashes
occurred in single-vehicle rollover crashes, which is higher
than the rollover fatality rates for any other passenger
vehicle type.
The death rate for all occupants was higher for 15-
passenger vans than for other passenger vehicle types combined.
During the period 2001 through 2005, the death rate for
occupants of 15-passenger vans was 250 fatalities per million
registered vehicles compared to 151 fatalities per million of
all other registered vehicles.
Safety belts dramatically increase the chances of survival
during a rollover crash. Nearly 80 percent of those people who
died in 15-passenger van rollovers nationwide between 1990 and
2003 were not buckled up.
SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION
H. Res. 964 seeks to promote the safe operation of 15-
passenger vans on our nation's roads. H. Res. 964 resolves that
the House of Representatives recognizes the need for awareness
regarding the increased risks of driving 15-passenger vans and
encourages any operator of such vehicle to provide adequate
training for drivers and safety information, including the
necessity for wearing safety belts, to passengers.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On February 7, 2008, Representative John J. Duncan, Jr.
introduced H. Res. 964. This resolution has not been introduced
in a previous Congress.
On February 28, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure met in open session to consider the resolution.
The Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a
substitute to the resolution and ordered the resolution, as
amended, reported favorably to the House by voice vote.
RECORD VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives
requires each committee report to include the total number of
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter,
and the names of those members voting for and against. There
were no recorded votes taken in connection with the amendment
offered to H. Res. 964 or with ordering H. Res. 964 reported. A
motion to order H. Res. 964, as amended, reported favorably to
the House was agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
COST OF LEGISLATION
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(d)(2) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 964
is a resolution of the House of Representatives and therefore
does not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost
associated with this resolution for fiscal year 2008, or for
any fiscal year thereafter.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and
clause 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding, so no comparison of the total estimated
funding level for the relevant programs to the appropriate
levels under current law is required.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding. Neither a cost estimate nor comparison for
any measure that authorizes funding is required.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, H. Res. 964 does not contain any
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
With respect to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, H. Res. 964 is a resolution of
the House of Representatives and therefore does not have the
force of law. As such, clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII does not
apply.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
H. Res. 964 contains no Federal mandates.
PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 964 does not
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this
resolution.
APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law
104-1).
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
H. Res. 964 makes no changes to existing law.
<all>