Government Study Finds Passenger Vans Among the Safest Commuting Vehicles, Reports VPSI

TROY, Mich., April 27 -- Recent research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studied occupant fatality rates of vehicles by size and type and found that "in all fatal crashes, when broken down by size, compact cars have the highest occupant fatality rate while the 'large vans' category has the lowest occupant fatality rate."

The NHTSA study looked at rates per 100,000 registered vehicles and found "the occupant fatality rates in all fatal crashes for passenger cars, SUVs and pickup trucks are similar, but higher than the rates for vans. In 2004, while the occupant fatality rates per 100,000 registered vehicle passenger cars, SUVs and pickup trucks were around 15, the rate for vans was 10.75."

The study shows that large vans and minivans have the lowest occupant fatality rate, while subcompact cars, compact cars and compact pickup trucks have the highest rates. In accidents where a rollover occurs, full-size vans and minivans have lower occupant fatality rates than mid- or full-size SUVs, as well as standard or compact pickups or compact cars.

Commuters who don't have personal access to full-size vans or minivans have the option of riding to and from work in a VPSI provided vanpool. For a low monthly fee, VPSI provides the vehicle, insurance, maintenance and repairs.

Employees who vanpool to and from work are more likely to survive a crash than those who commute in other vehicle types. In addition to saving money, time and stress while traveling to and from work, vanpoolers are also riding in vehicles that are among the safest on the roads today.

Established in 1977, VPSI is the nation's largest vanpool services provider. VPSI takes its vehicles through a rigorous process that meets or exceeds all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), conforms to ISO 9001 and QS-9000 standards and is approved by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

VPSI, Inc., headquartered in Troy, Michigan, operates a fleet of over 4,000 vehicles throughout the United States and Europe. With offices in over 25 major U.S. cities, VPSI has the resources to organize cost saving vanpools most anywhere in the country. For more information on VPSI's vanpooling services, visit http://www.vanride.com/ or call 1-800-VAN-RIDE.