UK becoming a nation of white van man (and women) drivers!

Most motorists will need to hire a van in their lifetime, as it’s often the only way to move house or transport large goods. While for some people, getting behind the wheel of such a vehicle is still a daunting prospect, a recent survey carried out on behalf of Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles showed that many prejudices about vans are disappearing, most especially those about safety and comfort. 

Of the 1,000 people questioned 81 per cent felt that driver safety had been well catered for with the introduction of technologies such as airbags, active safety systems and parking sensors. While it seems that the perception of vans as lacking in sophistication has also been laid to rest, with 90 per cent of people happy with comfort specifications such as air conditioning, electric windows, sat nav etc.

Although some respondents still felt uneasy about getting behind the wheel, the majority (51 per cent) were unconcerned about driving a van of any size and 57 per cent were comfortable with their ability to park it.  Drivers in Northern Ireland and the North East were most comfortable with the manoeuvrability of the vehicles, while those in the more congested areas of the country, London and the North West were likely to be more wary.

When those who claimed to be uneasy behind the wheel were asked what factor would make driving a van more comfortable almost 33 per cent felt they could benefit from some training when hiring the vehicle and a further 13 per cent thought an information pack on the van would be useful.

Commenting on the findings, Steve Bryant, Brand Manager, Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles, explained: “Unfamiliarity with a product can often breed a sense of fear, so we need to continue to challenge the perception that vans have not been designed for the mainstream motorist and are difficult to drive.”

Mr Bryant continued: “It’s really pleasing to see that attitudes about vans are changing, we’ve always been committed to enhancing the performance, comfort and the safety of our vehicles, both for our professional customers as well as the occasional driver, so it’s reassuring to see the message is getting out there.”

The Vauxhall Commercial Vehicle range is available with many features found on a modern car including air conditioning and automatic transmission, in addition to essential safety devices such as airbags, and ABS. Car-derived vans are based on the same-sized platform as a family car highlighting that some perceived barriers are purely psychological, rather than product-related.