Know your width: how to be a considerate van driver
What makes a considerate van driver? Join us as we run through 5 easy ways to be a kind, calm and courteous presence on the roads.
Van drivers have a bad reputation. It's often unjustified – so much so that we've already busted "the myth of the white van man": a myth that paints van drivers as rude and unhealthy. In fact, research shows that they're overwhelmingly safe and considerate.
Nevertheless, there's plenty of bad driving around, as anyone who lives in a built-up area will tell you. Bad driving, like bad manners, is contagious. It takes patience and perseverance to be a considerate driver in a world of inconsiderate ones.
So how do you do it? Well, in our opinion there are two sides to the issue. One relates to the van as a physical object – one that can, if you're not careful, become an obstruction to others.
The other is about good behaviour in general. Most advice about being a considerate van driver can be transferred to being a good citizen. It's about knowing how much space you take up, thinking about others and reacting calmly and skilfully to unpredictable behaviour.
In this article, we share five tips for being a considerate driver – as well as considering the issue of your vehicle's width. But first, why does it matter?
Why is it important to be a considerate driver?
Being a considerate driver is like good manners in general. It's valuable in itself – and it's also a way of protecting yourself.
If you drive inconsiderately, you're not only putting other drivers at risk and potentially causing upset and annoyance. You're also putting yourself at risk of getting points on your licence.
No one, we'd wager, would take a considerate driving course by choice. But if you get caught driving inconsiderately, that could be your fate. Similarly, points on your licence add up. Get enough and you'll have it taken off you.
Finally, there's the question of reputation. Not all van drivers represent companies, of course – nevertheless, company vehicles are a kind of wheeled advertisement. If you get aggressively overtaken by Bernie's Horse Feed Co., you're going to think twice about giving them your money.
Why is it important to know your vehicle's width?
Ever heard of manspreading? It's the tendency of men on public transport to spread their legs in such a way that takes up an unreasonable amount of space.
We're not implying that van drivers are all male or that their behaviour is typically masculine in a negative way. We're just saying that knowing how much space you take up is part of being a considerate person.
In the context of driving, this means knowing the size and weight of your vehicle and driving within its parameters. This is an easy way to ensure that you don't get in the way of other drivers.
What makes a considerate van driver?
You're in the queue at the Post Office. In this context, what constitutes "good manners"?
Your mileage may vary (no pun intended), but we suspect most of you would say that good manners mean things like:
- Waiting your turn
- Communicating clearly but gently
- Letting somebody through who appears to be struggling
- Saying "please", "thank you", and "sorry" when appropriate
Being a considerate van driver isn't much different. Let's see how those hallmarks of good manners translate into considerate driving.
1. Don't always put yourself first
In driving, as in life, it can be tempting to barge in, whether you're trying to order a drink or secure a promotion. But most of us appreciate being let through. In the context of driving, this means allowing other drivers to merge or switch lanes.
2. Don't honk unless you have to
Car horns have a specific purpose. They're there to warn other drivers of danger. They're absolutely not there for you to use as an anger management tool or as a way to hurry others along.
Honking unnecessarily is the driving equivalent of shouting at someone in a public bathroom to hurry up. Patience is key when trying to be a considerate driver.
Patience – and communication. Honking is like shouting: it only leads to conflict and resentment. As a van driver, you need to drive carefully and calmly so that you can signal your intentions effectively.
3. Don't inconvenience others
Lane-hogging and tailgating might suit your intention of getting from A to B that little bit faster. But practices like these are a huge inconvenience to others – and in a worst-case scenario can cause accidents.
Driving is no different from any other public interaction. The underlying principle is "do as you would be done by". Otherwise, you're upsetting others for no reason other than a marginal gain on your journey time.
4. Say "thank you"
It doesn't work for everyone – but we'll wager that most of us like being thanked or apologised to when appropriate. If someone creates a gap for you to join a road, thank them. It's a small gesture that can improve another person's day.
5. Let others through
This brings us to our final point. If you're in a traffic jam and you see a fellow driver stuck at a junction, let them through (so long as it's safe!)
As with all of these tips, being a considerate van driver is pretty much the same as being a considerate citizen. Offering help where you can is its own reward.
Final thoughts
Being a considerate van driver isn't that difficult. It involves knowing your width and acting in a calm, clear way that respects other drivers. It's not always rewarded – but it's a good thing to aspire to. We wish you safe – and considerate – travels!
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