Van drivers generally spend the most time behind the wheel and this can potentially increase their chances of being involved in an accident. These tips have been put together with van drivers in mind but can equally be applied to all drivers with a view to becoming safer on the road.

1-Essential maintenance checks

Check under the bonnet as well as on the outside of your car including your tyres. The main things to check under the bonnet include fluids and then check the tyres for wear and tear to ensure it’s safe to drive.

2-Positioning and seating in the car

Your seating and positioning in the car is also quite important to ensure you have a comfortable journey and can see everything clearly in the two wing mirrors as well as the rear view mirror. It also means that you don’t get back or neck pains when trying to see what’s behind you etc.

3-Plan your journey and the route you will take

If you drive up and down the same route regularly and know how to get from A to B then that’s fine. However, if you’re not that comfortable with map reading then try looking for alternative routes before your journey to see which one is the most cost effective. Also, think about investing in a sat-nav so that it can re-route you if there are any delays or diversions en route.

4-Load the van appropriately

Avoid picking up loads and just throwing them in the back of the van as goods can be damaged, not to mention using more petrol as the engine has to work harder to move the car. Take some time and appropriately load the van in a systematic fashion with all loads equally spread across the back of the van.

5-Breakdown preparation

Ensure that you are prepared if your van breaks down and keep it loaded with the number of your breakdown company as well as some essential equipment including a spare wheel, jack and wheel brace. Spare material to sit and as well as cover the wheel would be handy when changing a tyre in bad weather conditions.

6-Awareness and alertness

If you’re feeling sleepy then open the windows and stop at the earliest opportunity in a safe place or at the nearest service station if you are on the motorway. Get a good night sleep before the journey and have a good breakfast before leaving in the morning so that your energy levels remain high.

7-Worst case scenario

If you do end up being involved in an accident then ensure that you know what to do. Simple things like switching the engine off, put the handbrake on and then switch the headlights on and wait outside the vehicle. Finally, ensure that you take down the car registration and contact details of the person you had the accident with as well as a spare camera to capture an image of the two vehicles as proof to show the police as well as your insurance company.