50
AUGUST 2015 PRO INSTALLER
PRO MOTORING
www.proinstaller.co.uk
HALF OF UK VAN
DRIVERS DRIVING
OVERLOADED VANS
New research has shown that nearly 50% of van drivers, equating to over 1.2 million vehicles (according
to the DVSA), are unknowingly driving uninsured in the UK by simply overloading their vans.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
is working alongside the Driver and
Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to
educate van drivers about the potential dangers to driving overloaded
vehicles.
Independent research commissioned by
the commercial vehicle manufacturer found
that three quarters of businesses do not
realise their insurance could potentially be
invalidated if a company vehicle is involved
in a crash and found to be over the legal
weight limit.
In fact companies can face steep penalties
for failing to comply with legal weight limits
including fines, immobilisation of the vehicle and in severe cases a court summons.
Research, which surveyed both fleet managers and van drivers, found that nearly half
of UK businesses don’t monitor the weights
of their company vehicles, and 53% of
drivers don’t know their vehicle’s maximum
load carrying capacity.
Overloading can impact on the van’s
driving performance and lead to increased
stopping distances, difficulty in steering and
potentially tipping over. It will also cause
excessive wear and tear to the van affecting
tyres, suspension and brakes.
Gordon MacDonald, Vehicle Product
Manager at the DVSA, commented: “The research highlights that a large proportion of
van drivers could be breaking the law and
posing serious safety risks to themselves
and other road users. Overloading is a real
issue on our roads and it is the responsibility of both the driver