Dispelling The White-Van-Man Cliche

For years now the ‘white-van-man’ cliché has been affecting the mentality of all road users including that of the conscientious van driver! Why that is no one seems to know but it doesn't look like it is going to dissipate any time soon.

Could it be related to the dodgy dealings that occurred at the back of said vans glamorised in the 80’s by the likes of ‘Del-boy’ style characters as seen in shows like Only Fools and Horses? Or maybe it is the door to door sales people that have all sorts stacked up in the back of their van always ready to screech off dangerously down the road without a care in the world at the first sight of ‘long arm of the law’. Either way, the precedence has been set and only the fervent efforts of current ‘white-man-van’ drivers will help alter the way current insurers and other road users view them and their capabilities as safe drivers.

The AA dispelled the chestnut that the white-van-man was a dangerous driver definitively back in 2003 with their in depth study of road users and their characteristics. What they found was interesting to say the least, for their study showed that van drivers were in fact the safest on the UK roads! The study showed that your average van driver holds a clean driving license and goes some 4 and a half years before making a claim. Additionally a miniscule 17% of van drivers maker claims on their policies each year, a figure dwarfed by the 25% of car drivers! Were those figures isolated to that year or do they still ring true today? In 2007 the AA stated that the “story is still the same” and has been so for all the years in between.

The AA wasn't alone in their findings, over the last few years a number of independent studies have gone on to show that overall van drivers are better customers than their car-owning counterparts. One such study was carried out by insurance-provider newcomer Tesco, their intelligence showed that “one in five van drivers have been on an advance driving course or have had some further driving training”. Surely such knowledge dispels the notion that van drivers are reckless and should be avoided both by other road users and insurers alike. Like the AA study, Tesco insurance showed that van drivers “make fewer and smaller claims than car owners”.

On reflection it makes sense that van drivers would be more careful than other road users, after all disrespecting road etiquette inevitably leads to more accidents, not something that will favour the self-employed van driver. Accidents invariably puts their livelihood at risk, for each day their vehicle is out of action is a day of money lost and food not being put on the table for them and their household. It's not just the road worthy nature of a van but also its aesthetics; after all for those that advertise on the side of their van appearance is vital. A huge dent or scratch coursing through the middle of your tag line will not reflect on you and the service you offer kindly.

What does this all mean for the current van driver looking to take out new insurance or those that have reached their renewal date? Rather than continue to swallow the ‘white-van-man’ cliché, that stipulates because your peers are supposedly dangerous motorists, you too will be treated as a high risk liability and thus have to pay a higher premium for your insurance; you should shop around, mention your extra driving training and your years of no claims and most importantly; don't accept the first quote sent your way.