As a van driver, you’re out on the roads more than most, but whether you’re covering a different area every day or making a lot of the same journeys, other drivers are bound to annoy you with their habits.
From the little things which grind your gears to the downright dangerous, we’re going to count down the top ten annoying driving habits van drivers have to put up with from other road users.
Some people obviously struggle more than others, but if a driver is blocking a van because of poor manoeuvring skills, this means the van driver is also causing a blockage. It also doesn’t help those who are on time-critical deliveries when these delays occur.
A pet peeve of most people, but for van drivers, this is a nuisance as stopping distances needed are greater for heavier vehicles. If a driver isn’t indicating it means a van might need to perform an emergency brake. No one wants to try and second-guess another driver.
Nocturnal van drivers making deliveries or working late will have come across drivers who either forget or refuse to take their full beams off when approaching oncoming traffic. It’s never fun being blinded and dazed by someone else in the pitch black.
A universal complaint, no one should think they’re above the law. Seatbelts save lives whether you’re driving a company vehicle or a personal one. Wear your seatbelt at all times.
An incredibly dangerous manoeuvre, there is a reason you’re not supposed to do it. Van drivers covering a lot of distance will find they have to keep their concentration and look out for people who selfishly flout this rule.
Being out on the road for long periods, especially driving alone, can be dull and sometimes lonely. So it’s nice that when you do a good deed for another driver – letting them into your lane, letting them pull out from a side road etc. – to thank you. Those who don’t flash or gesture thanks with the wave of a hand make driving a demoralising experience.
For a van driver, a parking space is hard to find at the best of times. When car drivers park across two spaces it makes it even more difficult. Whether parking for work purposes or just popping to the shops, this isn’t a fun issue to deal with.
It’s irksome knowing that your van is not that much larger than a car – particularly 4x4s – only to find normal drivers giving you too wide of a berth. The presence of mind is appreciated, but it actually causes more problems as there is room enough for vans on almost every road.
Again, this is not a habit which annoys just the van drivers, but it definitely is a pet peeve for the group. It’s a danger to both the person tailgating as well as the van driver. Many commercial vans are limited for speed so riding their bumper isn’t going to make them move any faster.
If you need to overtake a van, do so carefully and at a legal point on the road. What van drivers say most annoys them, however, is when they are overtaken only for the car to pull in front and slow down. Van drivers, whether self-employed or working for a company, know a constant and steady pace is more fuel-efficient, and therefore want to maintain a certain speed. It’s dangerous to pull in front of a vehicle which needs more stopping distance, too, forcing an emergency brake when it’s completely avoidable.
We hope you enjoyed reading our countdown of driving habits that annoy van drivers. At TWC Truck & Fleet we’re dedicated to the van drivers out there, helping to provide van windscreen repair and replacement services to ensure you can keep your vans on the road. Whether it’s accidental damage or a RTA which has resulted in your windscreen becoming compromised, contact our team for a rapid response.
The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
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