Van driver praised for tackling vehicle blaze

On the 25th of January, a 34-year-old was travelling down the M271 when he saw flames appear from underneath the car in front. This vehicle, a silver Peugeot, then spun out of control and landed on its roof.

Quickly applying the brakes, the motorist stopped his van, switched on the hazards, and jumped out the vehicle – with a fire extinguisher in hand – to tackle the flames coming from the flipped car.

Furthermore, he checked the wreck for any passengers and dragged the sole occupant – the driver – to a safe location.

Although it is currently unknown what actually caused the accident, it seems the Peugeot suffered a tyre blow-out – resulting in the car spinning out of control.

Regardless, the van insurance policyholder deserves substantial praise for this actions. Without his quick thinking, the driver could have easily suffered serious, or even fatal, injuries. Instead, he has only sustained minor whiplash.

Commending the man's actions, a spokesperson for Hampshire Police also asked for witnesses of the accident to contact Totton Roads Policing Unit with any relevant information.

Whether you have purchased Ford Escort van insurance, cover for a Transit, or a similar policy for a different vehicle, it is probably fair to say that the majority of your journeys take place without incident.

Unfortunately, sometimes traffic accidents do occur, and although many motorists do not know how they would respond in this situation, this van driver is rightly being praised for his selflessness.

Photo © matthew venn via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

Mobile phone use may be common amongst motorists

It sounds quite obvious, but using a hand-held mobile phone while behind the wheel is illegal for a reason. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), this action may increase a person's chances of performing various dangerous driving behaviours, such as failing to notice road signs, maintain a central lane position, or observe other road users.

As a result, this dramatically increases their chances of suffering traffic accidents – potentially harming themselves or other people in the process. In addition, research published on the RoSPA website suggests that van drivers are more likely than other road users to talk on a phone when behind the wheel.

However, although all motorists should recognise the dangers of using mobiles while driving, the results of a Halfords survey suggest that this behaviour could be commonplace.
After polling a selection of motorists, the retail firm discovered that 36% of respondents had conversed on their devices when behind the wheel – sometimes more than once a week. In addition, when on the roads, 35% stated they looked at text messages while 19% admitted to accessing websites or social media.

Despite these somewhat troubling results, 88% of respondents believed that using a hand-held phone while on the roads placed themselves and other individuals in danger.

All motorists, including car drivers and van insurance policyholders, should refrain from using mobiles when behind the wheel. If caught, they could face various penalties, such as receiving a £60 penalty fine or having three points added to his or her licence.

In addition, in the event of a traffic accident, those responsible may have to pay for an expensive vehicle repair bill – and might also find it hard to obtain affordable motor cover in the future.
Photo © satguru via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence

Proud to be a van driver

Recent research by a commercial van insurer has shown that 53% of business van drivers enjoy driving their van more than their private car. Reasons for this included:

• It makes me feel more authoritative on the road;
• I feel safer because I can see more of the road due to my van being higher than my car;
• I have more space in my van than my car;
• I don't worry about scratching it as much as my car
• I like being known as a 'van driver'.

I have to say that I agree with the majority of these reasons, I like having the space and being able to see over the tops of other road users, and I’ll admit to not taking as much care when parking near a bollard or a wall.

I feel free in my van, and that’s why I make sure that I get the best commercial van insurance possible for it so that I can keep driving it and make sure that I’m covered for any accidents.

One of those behind the research stated, "The results of the survey are quite surprising. People naturally think that if given the choice of driving a van or a car, the majority would prefer a car, but clearly this is not the case for van drivers. It seems that once a van driver, always a van driver.

Well said, Sir. I am a proud van driver through and through.

Photo © Eric Kilby via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence