National Highways

Did you know?

• 56% of van drivers consider themselves overweight.
• 70% of van drivers say work pressures severely impact their ability to drink enough water and have a healthy diet.
• Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK, with 1 man dying every two hours.

  Nutrition 27% of van drivers rely solely on sugary drinks or caffeine to get them through the day. Only 76% of drivers take a lunch break and 41% eat their lunch in their van. 37% eat at least 1 portion of fruit or vegetables during the working day. The recommended fluid intake per day for is 2.5 litres for men and 2 litres for women...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.

Did you know?

• More than four million journeys are made on the strategic road network each day. On average, Highways England record around 196,000 breakdowns per year (536 each day).
• The most common breakdowns are related to tyres, overheating, electrical problems and running out of fuel.

If your vehicle develops a problem or if you break down on the motorway:

1. Put your LEFT indicators on.
2. Move into the LEFT lane.
3. Exit LEFT at the next junction/services, or
4. Exit left into an emergency area or hardshoulder.
5. Put your hazard lights on.
6. Get behind a safety barrier and keep well away from moving traffic.
7. Call Highways England on 0300 123 5000 then a breakdown provider for help.

If you cannot do the above, or in an emergency...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.

Did you know?

• The speed limit on a motorway is 70 mph (where national speed limit applies). Large vehicles and vehicles towing trailers have a speed limit of 60mph unless other limits are shown.
• If caught speeding on a motorway, a driver could be fined up to £2,500.
• The Red X is there for your safety and means an incident has occurred ahead. Driving under a red X sign is illegal and could result in an automatic £100 fine and 3 penalty points.

When there are three or more lanes, certain kinds of vehicles can never use the right-hand lane. These include vehicles with trailers, speed-limited goods vehicles between... Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.

Did you know?

• In 2019, there were 60 fatalities involving vans and vulnerable road users.
• 62% of cyclists killed or seriously injured were involved in collisions at, or near, a road junction.
• Post collision, drivers could face financial claims from a vulnerable road user covering their loss of wages, medical expenses and any recovery treatment.

Drivers should take extra care to avoid collisions with vulnerable road users, because a pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, or horse rider will always come off worse than them. Drivers should check...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.    

Did you know?

• Our most recent data shows that, on average, 13%* of all fatalities and serious injuries on the Strategic Road Network include weather conditions as a contributing factor to the incident.
• Of these, 78%* occurred in the rain (four times more than any other adverse weather condition). *Source STATS19 Road Safety Data www.data.gov.uk

Top tips for driving in heavy rain and floods: Driving fast through water is dangerous, inconsiderate and can end up being very expensive. It only takes an egg cupful of water to be sucked into an engine to wreck it and...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.

Did you know?

• Each year, DVSA issue over 2,000 prohibitions to drivers of vehicles which present a road safety risk because of poor load security.
• Where a vehicle’s load is deemed to be in a dangerous condition, the driver can receive 3 penalty points and a licence endorsement.
• Drivers and their employers can be fined up to £5,000 per overloading offence.

The driver is responsible for the vehicle and any load while driving on the road, regardless of who loaded it. The driver is required to ensure the load is secured to the vehicle so it cannot cause a danger to anyone. Overloading changes the way a van...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.  

Did you know?

• Drivers face a non-endorsable fixed penalty of £50–£100 for causing an unnecessary obstruction by parking opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction.
• The average motorist in the UK spends nearly 4 days every year looking for parking spaces.
• Parking lights must be used during the night on a road or layby on a highway with a speed limit higher than 30mph.

A single yellow line – either painted on the road or on the kerb – means no waiting, parking, loading, or unloading at the times shown on the accompanying sign. A double yellow line – either painted on the road or on the kerb...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.

Did you know? Towing with a van could:

• Mean you need different driving licence categories.
• Require use of EU drivers’ hours rules and tachographs (although there may be exemptions you can use).
• Overload the towing vehicle beyond its legal and / or physical capabilities.

Vans with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of up to 3500kg can tow trailers up to 7 metres long and 2.55 metres wide. Trailers with a GVW of 751kg or more are required to be fitted with...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.

Did you know?

• Seat belts are simple to put on and save lives.
• The penalty for not wearing a seat belt when driving is currently a £100 fine, rising to £500 if taken to court.
• The use of a seat belt by drivers and vehicle occupants was made compulsory in the UK.
• People not wearing a seat belt are 30 times more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a collision.

If the vehicle has seat belts fitted, legally they must be worn. Male drivers aged 17 to 59 are most likely not to wear a seat belt. Common reasons why people do not wear a seat belt include...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.

Did you know?

• Penalties for speeding range from £100 – £2,500 and between 3 and 6 penalty points.
• Drivers who go to court for speeding, could be fined up to 175% of their weekly salary and even be disqualified from driving.
• Speeding fines vary for certain types of roads and for different vehicle ratings.

Many van drivers are not aware that speed limits for most light commercial vehicles (LCVs) are lower than passenger cars on carriageways. As a rule, the UK speed limit for vans is 10 mph slower than...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.

Did you know?

• One of the biggest hazards and challenges of Spring driving is low sun. You must ensure you can see where you are going.
• Use the vehicle’s sun visor and wear sunglasses to minimise glare.
• You must ensure your windscreen is kept clean and your washer and wipers are working properly.

Millions of drivers suffer from spring allergies that cause runny noses, itchy eyes and sore throat. Many rely on medications that induce drowsiness which then places them at risk behind the wheel. Before combining any allergy medication with driving, read the instructions or consult with...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.  

Did you know?

• Hot weather can cause fatigue and irritability to drivers.
• Drivers can become easily dehydrated and it can affect their driving abilities.
• Drivers experience increased congestion from high levels of traffic on holiday routes and in road works for road construction and maintenance.

Summer brings out different road users. Look out for horses, tractors, caravans, horseboxes, cyclists and walkers. Loose chippings are a common sight on roads in the summer - they can cause cracked headlamps and windscreens, and damage...   Learn more and share with your drivers - access all 36 modules of the free Van Driver Toolkit here.