Van driver speeding is ‘epidemic’

VAN driver speeding is at epidemic proportions according to a driver training company.

It says that recent Department for Transport (DfT) figures showed that van drivers are the most likely group of drivers to speed in built up areas and on motorways.

DFT statistics showed that in free-flowing traffic in 30mph zones 45% of vans drivers were speeding, with 5% reaching speeds in excess of 40mph.

On motorways, the stats show that 47% of vans drivers exceeded the 70mph limit with 10% breaking 80mph.

“The instances of speeding in vans are worryingly consistent across all road types that were measured. Extrapolate that across the millions of vans drivers at work in the UK, and it illustrates that drivers at work in commercial vehicles are breaking the law far too often.”

Greg Ford, Head of Corporate, RED Corporate Driver Training Tweet

He went on: “Not only does this provide a safety risk, but costs more too because the faster a van goes, the more fuel it uses, while also carrying inherent reputational damage for the company as well.

“But these figures fail to reveal the elephant in the room: speeding commercial vehicles on National Speed Limit roads. In its report, the DfT states: ‘The speed limit applicable to different types of van on this road type depends on the maximum laden weight and construction of the vehicle, which cannot be determined by our data source.’

“In our work with fleets, this is one of the single biggest sources of confusion, and risk: the speed limits for different commercial vehicle types and weights. So often when drivers come to us, they don’t know whether their commercial vehicle should be 56, 60 or 70mph on a dual carriageway, or 50, 56 or 60mph on a single.”

RED has produced a series of interactive e-learner videos, one of which explains the rules around commercial vehicle speed limits, and Ford says it is an area fleets need to address.

“We need to make speeding a taboo activity, and to do that it comes from the top down. There are lots of penalties and activities to punish speeding, but we need to create a culture where it becomes self-policing, rather than a battle between the motorist versus the police and technology,” added Greg.