We’ve all heard the stereotypes bandied around concerning van drivers, including the idea that they’re more likely to have a sausage roll in their hand than a piece of fruit.
However, new research has shown just how inaccurate those preconceptions might be – and that Britain’s van drivers could actually be at the forefront when it comes to adopting healthier lifestyles.
Swapping fatty snacks for low-fat lunches
A poll carried out on more than 1,100 UK van drivers by Vauxhall Motors and On The Tools found a lot of people who drive for long periods of time are treating their health as more of a concern than they did in the past.
Indeed, 34 per cent of respondents said they have been ditching greasy, fatty lunches in favour of cooking low-fat options in advance to take to work with them, with 19 per cent also trying meat-free meals.
Furthermore, 37 per cent reported exercising at least once a week in order to counteract the negative effects that sitting behind the wheel for long periods of time could have.
Research has previously shown these dangers may include high blood pressure, raised blood sugar and greater fat storage around the waist, all of which can lead to heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
Vauxhall Motors spokesperson Patrick Fourniol said: “Van drivers often spend a lot of time at the wheel which can make it trickier to prioritise healthy eating and exercise, but our research shows many are making it a priority.”
This study also appears to demonstrate a strengthening of trends seen in research by Volkswagen in 2018, when one in seven van drivers reported making their own packed lunches and one in ten reported trying to eat more fruit, vegetables and salad while on the road.
Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “We’re really pleased to see van drivers leading the charge when it comes to making the nation healthier. It seems we could all take a leaf out of their book and implement some changes this January.”
Ensuring your vision is up to scratch is one of the most important aspects of being a safe driver.
When out on the roads, it’s imperative you are able to see everything that is going on around your vehicle, so regular eye checks are a must.
Regular eye checks are crucial for safe driving
With that in mind, road safety and vehicle recovery specialist GEM Motoring Assist believes the start of 2020 could be the perfect opportunity for all fleet operators to make sure their drivers have 20/20 vision.
GEM road safety officer Neil Worth commented: “What better time than the year 2020 to get your vision checked properly and ensure the risks you face as a driver are as low as possible?”
Indeed, he noted that poor eyesight is linked to more than 3,000 fatal and serious collisions on the UK’s roads every year.
As a result, scheduling regular eye tests for staff should be a key part of safe driving policies for every business.
Mr Worth concluded: “We are encouraging drivers to ensure their eyesight goes beyond 20/20. After all, 20/20 is only an expression of normal visual acuity, but the requirements for safe driving go beyond clarity of central vision.”
Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Your eyesight is potentially the most essential tool at your disposal to be able to avoid serious accidents when driving. If you ever feel there has been any change in your vision then it’s important to have your eyesight tested.”
We love our cars and we know you do too, but their impact on the environment cannot be denied. According to government figures, greenhouse gas emissions from road transport have been growing since 1990, despite efforts to make vehicles more efficient.
As traffic levels increased, the effects of fuel-efficient technology were mitigated and emissions from vehicles now make up more than a fifth of the UK’s total output of harmful substances in the environment.
Hybrid vehicles have been around since the late 1990s, but they are now becoming ever-more popular as a solution to the problem of pollution. With the government’s announcement that sales of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030, this is likely to increase over the next decade as carmakers invest more money into the technology.
But what exactly are hybrid vehicles? In case you haven’t really been keeping up with the lingo and are feeling left behind, here’s everything you need to know.
Hybrids in a nutshell
While the first hybrid car (the Prius in 1997) looked completely different to anything else on the roads, this isn’t the case anymore. In fact, you may not even realise you’re looking at a hybrid when you see one.
Basically, hybrids bridge the gap between traditional vehicles that are powered by petrol or diesel and those that are completely powered by electric energy because they combine a typical engine with a battery-powered electric motor.
There are a number of different types of hybrid:
1- Parallel hybrid
This is the most common type, with an example being the Toyota Prius. It can be powered solely by the engine; solely by the motor; or using both together. Electricity is produced and stored when the brakes are applied.
2- Range extender
Like the BMW i3, the engine in these cars never drives the vehicle and is instead used to produce energy to recharge the batteries.
3- Plug-in
These cars can be charged while they are being driven, or by being plugged in at a designated charging point. The Mitsubishi Outlander is a good example.
You might also hear the terms ‘strong’ or ‘mild’, which simply refers to the amount of battery power available – strong hybrids can drive further than mild ones.
How do they combine for driving?
Typically, the electric motor in a hybrid car applies at low speeds and when setting off from a stop to power the drive wheels. Once you reach around 35 mph, the fuel-powered engine takes over and powers the wheels instead.
Benefits of hybrid vehicles
Not only are they looking increasingly saintly when compared with traditional vehicles, but the other main advantage of hybrid cars is that they use up to 30 per cent less fuel per mile.
For fleet owners, this means having to splash out a lot less cash at the petrol pumps because there aren’t as many fill-ups.
You may also find that greener company cars are eligible for benefits such as lower road tax and company car tax in their first year, as well as being exempt from certain congestion charges.
Finally, although they may be more expensive to buy in the short term (potentially by up to 20 per cent more), hybrid vehicles could offer higher resale values further down the line should you come to sell your fleet and upgrade.
What’s more, with many manufacturers now offering plug-in variants for the majority of models in their line-ups, you shouldn’t be short of choice.
What about range anxiety?
You might have heard the term ‘range anxiety‘, which boils down to fear of running out of power before you have completed a journey. However, this needn’t worry you at all if you have a hybrid, because you can rest assured that the engine will kick in should your battery ever get low on juice. This is currently a significant advantage over full-electric cars.
Aren’t charging points few and far between?
You might have heard people scoffing that there’s no point in hybrid vehicles or full-electric cars because there’s nowhere to charge them up. Actually, this is no longer the case. Estimates suggest there are now 35,000 public charging points in the UK, with 7000 of these added in 2020 alone.
According to Arval figures, 25 per cent of UK fleets have already begun adopting hybrid cars, so don’t be left behind; join the revolution!
Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “We hope this has cleared up some of the myths behind hybrid car ownership. As you can see, they’re actually really simple and could offer significant benefits for your fleet – not least the knowledge that you’re doing your bit for the planet.”
A safety organisation has urged fleet and business owners to do more to keep their drivers safe after its study found the number of collisions caused by drivers at work has increased.
IAM RoadSmart highlighted Department for Transport figures showing there were 5,506 serious and fatal crashes in Britain involving an at-work driver last year, up from the 5,442 seen a decade earlier.
Disappointing progress
In its white paper The Role of Business Drivers, the body criticised the ‘disappointing lack of progress’ and called for ‘urgent action’ to tackle the stagnation.
According to a survey carried out as part of the research, a significant contributing factor could be poor business practices, with 49 per cent of business leaders saying they expect their employees to answer their phone at all times – even if they are driving.
Furthermore, 13 per cent of employees and six per cent of leaders said they think the hard shoulder of a motorway is an acceptable place to take a business call.
IAM RoadSmart spokesperson Neil Greig said he finds the results of the research alarming.
“Employers need to do more to drive change across their workforce and to take their responsibilities to keep staff safe, particularly when they’re behind the wheel for business,” he added.
This comes just two months after research by Lightfoot found 12 per cent of fleet drivers who had had a crash cited phone calls during their journey as the primary cause of their accident.
Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Again, this disturbing news shows some fleet staff may be feeling so under pressure from deadlines and targets that they are compromising the safety of themselves and others. Please ensure all your staff have the time and space they need to complete every journey safely.”
Christmas comes but once a year, and with it is the traditional Christmas getaway, with roads up and down the country becoming chock full of motorists making their way to festive functions and family gatherings.
That said, while Christmas and New Year is a time of joy, spare a thought for the millions of beleaguered drivers who feel the stress of long journeys at this time of year.
Getting flustered with Christmas packing
According to a poll of more than 1,000 UK motorists by Nissan, 36 per cent of drivers will be visiting ten or more people over the holiday period and that can cause anxiety about how best to fit gifts, luggage and essentials into their car.
A lack of boot space was shown to be the number one concern for 68 per cent of respondents, while 20 per cent stated they’ve considered the use of a trailer to ensure they have enough room to travel with everything they need.
Overall, 65 per cent of motorists said they get stressed about packing for the Christmas getaway, while a quarter (26 per cent) said they would rather ‘cancel Christmas altogether’ than face the dilemma of how to pack the car.
How to avoid a Christmas headache
“Christmas preparation can be stressful. And often the need to pack up the car to visit family can only makes things worse,” commented travel and packing expert Kate Simon.
“Packing for the family road-trip, where lifelong memories will be made, should be a fun activity for all to get involved in, so I was thrilled to partner with Nissan and showcase how one of the most popular family cars can help alleviate the stress this Christmas.”
Here are Kate’s top tips on packing for a Christmas getaway:
Do a trial run: Carry out trial runs of packing your vehicle before the day you have to leave. This will ensure you know precisely where everything goes and any headaches around fitting bulky items have already been dealt with when it comes time to travel for real.
Maximise space in your luggage: Fold up and roll your clothes before packing them in cases. By minimising the space items take up in your luggage, you can limit the number of cases that need to be loaded in your vehicle.
Look for hidden spaces: Every car is different, but most will have small nooks and crannies where suitably-sized items can be stowed. This can help to free up space for larger items.
Pack in priority order: Think about the things that will be most essential when you arrive at your destination and put these in last. Doing so will ensure they are easily accessible on arrival, meaning there’s no rooting around for gifts or cases when all you want to do is say hello.
Ellie Baker, brand manager at Fuel Card Services, comments: “Taking the stress out of packing for a festive getaway is sometimes easier said than done. However, with a little preparation and forethought, there are ways around the problem, as these handy tips have shown.”
