R 101600Z JUL 01
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//LF//
TO MARADMIN
BT
UNCLAS //N03000//
MARADMIN 325/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/LF//
SUBJ/NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) HAZARD
/ALERT FOR 15 PASSENGER VANS//
POC/T. CAMPBELL/GM-14/HQMC LFS/-/TEL:(703) 695-7010//
POC/R. STEPHENS/HQMC SD/TEL:(703) 614-1202//
RMKS/1 THIS IS A CO-RELEASED HQMC LF AND SD MESSAGE. THE NHTSA HAS
ISSUED A CAUTIONARY WARNING TO USERS OF 15-PAX VANS CONCERNING
ROLLOVER RISK UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THEIR WARNING REVEALED
THAT 15-PAX VANS HAVE A ROLLOVER RISK SIMILAR TO OTHER LIGHT TRUCKS
AND VANS WHEN CARRYING ONLY A FEW PASSENGERS. RISK INCREASES
DRAMATICALLY AS NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS ARE INCREASED TO MORE THAN TEN.
LOADING THE VAN CAUSES THE CENTER OF GRAVITY TO SHIFT REARWARD AND
UPWARD, THEREBY INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ROLLOVER.
2. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE NHTSA STUDY CAN BE FOUND ON THEIR
WEBSITE AT: HTTP:WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV SLASH PEOPLE SLASH NCSA SLASH
REPORTS.HTMS
3. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 300 MARINE CORPS 15-PAX VANS LOCATED AT
MARINE CORPS COMMANDS AND INSTALLATIONS PERFORMING AND SATISFYING
VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS. ADDITIONAL QUANTITIES OF
15-PAX VANS ARE RENTED FOR SHORT-TERM REQUIREMENTS (59-DAYS OR LESS)
TO SATISFY UNSCHEDULED OR NONRECURRING REQUIREMENTS WHERE MARINE
CORPS OWNED EQUIPMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE. SAFETY OF THOSE TRANSPORTED
IN THESE VEHICLES IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR PARAMOUNT CONCERN.
TO THIS END, THIS HEADQUARTERS WILL FURNISH STICKERS THAT WILL BE
UNIFORMLY PLACED INSIDE ALL USMC-OWNED/GSA LEASED 15-PAX VANS.
THEY WILL READ:
! ! ! WARNING ! ! !
OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE, FULLY LOADED,
MAY INCREASE ROLLOVER RISKS. THE DRIVER
AND ALL PASSENGERS MUST WEAR
SEATBELTS AT ALL TIMES.
DO NOT EXCEED POSTED SPEED LIMIT.
4. COMMANDERS ENSURE THAT EVERY DRIVER READS AND SIGNS THE SAFETY
BRIEF BEFORE OPERATING A 15-PAX VAN. THE BRIEF IS AVAILABLE ON
THE SAFETY DIVISION WEBSITE AT: WWW.HQMC.USMC.MIL SLASH SAFETY.NSF
5. ADDITIONALLY, COMMANDERS SHOULD DISSEMINATE INFO TO TRAVEL AND
TRANSPORTATION OFFICES, ORDER WRITING UNITS, AND MARINE CORPS
COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR CONSIDERATION IN THEIR USERS AND/OR
AUTHORIZATIONS OF 15 PAX VANS. WIDEST DISSEMINATION TO ALL MILITARY
AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL IS ENCOURAGED.//
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