The average independent trader using a van is losing hundreds of pounds on fuel costs and replacing tyres more quickly than they need to while also pumping out unnecessary CO2 emissions due to their driving style.
This includes behaviour such as excessive speed, accelerating sharply, and braking suddenly, all of which puts extra strain on the engine, tyres and brake pads, as well as leading to more fuel consumption.
The research was collated through data from 4,500 participants in road safety charity IAM RoadSmart’s ‘Driving for Work’ training courses.
If just one van driver was to adopt ‘eco-driving’, a driving style focused on maximising fuel efficiency and minimising environmental impact, they would save £539 a year in fuel alone, spend up to £144 less on new tyres, and emit 0.69 fewer tonnes of CO2, almost equivalent to driving a lap of Britain’s coast.
‘Eco-driving’ involves accelerating smoothly, maintaining steady speeds, refraining from braking sharply, and changing gear efficiently.
Separate research from IAM RoadSmart revealed that the unbranded white van drivers, the so-called ‘white van man’, are perceived to be most likely to show aggressive behaviour such as tailgating, undertaking and gesticulating, compared to other road users.
Out of more than 2,000 IAM RoadSmart motorists that were surveyed, half said they thought ‘white van drivers’ were the most aggressive, followed closely by drivers of SUVs.
