Author: News Desk

Christmas Cheer from Cheap Van Insurance

Posted on by News Desk

It’s that time of year again. 

Whilst the majority of Brits are feeling festive, most delivery drivers are fighting a war against thieves.

You only have to turn on the news to hear about several delivery drivers once again being attacked by thieves. Unfortunately, the seasonal holidays increase this danger. 

In Birmingham, just last week, nearly 100 packages were stolen from a Hermes delivery van. You just know that the van was undoubtedly full of Christmas gifts, too. Thankfully the driver was left unhurt, but she is most likely right in thinking she was targeted, as well as followed.

This comes from a string of reports of parcels also being stolen from many customers’ doorsteps. Some people just want to watch the world burn, don’t they?

Remember folks, it’s best to keep your van locked and keys secured at all times. Even if it’s a 5-second jolt to the customer’s doors. A thief can use any amount of time to their advantage.

Delivery drivers haven’t had the kindest treatment this year, so here is another post dedicated to you, and your vans.

Below, you will find a Christmas poem that will hopefully provide you with some cheer, but it’s also a dedication to our delivery driver heroes. 

Enjoy, and from all of us here at Cheap Van Insurance, a very Merry Christmas to all our readers and customers! 

P.s. if you have wished for cheaper van insurance deals for Christmas this year, use this form to see what cost-busting deals you can get.

A Delivery Driver’s Christmas

In the lead up to Christmas Day

Many are at home, awaiting deliveries

Busy delivery drivers are working away

Hitting impossible targets, but how?

It’s a mystery

We applaud their vigour

And vigilance too

For thieves will be watching

Awaiting their cue

Criminals will try to steal your gifts

But delivery drivers stand firm,

Work crazy shifts,

and provide lifts

To your children’s presents

Making burglars hiss

They fight off the thieves,

Through staying alert

And protecting your package

Though some may get hurt

So this Christmas

We salute the true Santa Claus

They are our delivery drivers

Who deserve rounds of applause

Holiday Hazards: Why Dogs Are A Real Threat To Delivery Drivers

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The Hidden Hazards Delivery Drivers Face During The Holidays

It’s a story as old as time for delivery drivers:

The family dog charges at an unsuspecting postman.

When we think of dogs and Christmas, this probably isn’t the first image that comes to mind.

More often, people say, “Dogs aren’t just for Christmas.”

But for delivery drivers, the holiday season can bring a different kind of worry.

Why Dogs Pose A Unique Threat To Delivery Drivers

No matter how cute or friendly a dog might appear, their instincts can still take you by surprise.

For certain dogs, the sight of a delivery driver’s fingers slipping through the letterbox quickly registers as an unwelcome intrusion.

In fact, just recently, we stumbled upon the story of a Scotsman who has learned this lesson firsthand.

Real Stories: When Friendly Fidos Turn Fierce

Glen Morgan, a veteran delivery driver for Hermes, has had his share of run-ins with canines.

In his eight years on the job, he’s been attacked four times.

His first encounter was especially severe—requiring stitches and a tetanus shot.

A Neighborhood Hazard That’s Hard To Avoid

Most delivery drivers know which homes in their neighborhood have aggressive dogs.

But here’s the thing:

In most cases, there’s very little a driver can do aside from hoping that the owners will keep their pets secured and out of reach.

Not exactly what you’d want on your Christmas wish list, is it?

The Unexpected Danger Of Surprise Attacks

And then, there are the sneak attacks.

Unpredictable and startling, these can be the most nerve-wracking of all.

For many, non-contact delivery during the pandemic brought a sense of relief.

According to Royal Mail, dog attacks on their delivery staff dropped by 31% with non-contact delivery.

Staying Safe: Resources And Advice For Drivers

Royal Mail has a helpful resource—the “Dog Awareness” page—for posties looking to stay safe.

Here, you’ll find:

  • Tips for drivers on handling dog encounters
  • Advice for dog owners to prevent incidents
  • Case studies like Glen Morgan’s

You can even see which areas in the UK are the worst for dog attacks on delivery drivers.

A Final Word Of Caution For The Holiday Season

As the Christmas rush ramps up, delivery drivers work harder than ever.

The moral of the story?

Be cautious and aware of your surroundings—especially when dogs are nearby.

One last tip:

Don’t let your van insurance renewal ruin Christmas, either.

We’ll leave you with a helpful tip.

Don’t let your van insurance renewal ruin Christmas either. Get it out of the way and check out our cheap van insurance deals. It takes just 3 minutes.

Meet the Green Drivers Enjoying Van Life

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A pair of mates from Southend are currently living their best lives in a van.

Now, they’re encouraging you to do the same. 

If you’re a user of Instagram, you may already be aware of the van-loving Southend duo.

Their page “themtbvanlife” has amassed nearly 13 and a half followers (as of this moment).

Their purpose is to try to inspire people to go on adventures with minimal items — for example, just their van and electric bikes. 

They are also setting a good example.

Their van has been modified to include solar panels, making it easier to get their e-bikes charged, and the van to run more efficiently.

You gotta love it when we’re kinder to the planet, don’t ya?

The men, who are in their late twenties, work in the IT sector.

Since converting the van to be a good runner, and a decent place to live in as they travel.

They have travelled all over the UK and even into Europe (mainland). 

Their main goal isn’t to promote vehicle use (unless you’re exceptionally eco-friendly).

Instead, they encourage exploring by e-bike once you reach your destination.

Sensible, we think, especially as the bikes continue to be charged in the super van.

Being off-grid is what appeals to the lads: Sam Rook and Luke Dokic.

And they seem to be doing it very well, as their Instagram following suggests.

What do you reckon?

Could you go off-grid with just a van and bike as a means for travel?

Then again, if you compare the environmental impact of a plane to this, it’s probably much better.

Susan from next door doesn’t think she could do it.

But then she does have her budgies to think about.

But if you feel like this is certainly something you could consider, then we would highly recommend you follow the boys’ feed.

Lots of pleasing van stuff, too. 

Oh, and Sam and Luke, if you’re reading this…

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Unruly Van Drivers Give Us a Bad Name

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Stop. Please, stop. You know who you are. 

This week, we’ve heard of quite a few instances that have been rather… Well, out of the ordinary. Let’s start off with one that’s perhaps slightly more light-hearted.

Asda Delivery Driver Down in the Dumps

Yet another viral video has been doing the rounds across the internet involving an unfortunate van driver. 

This time, it isn’t in favour of the delivery driver either, unlike this lucky fella.

Let’s cut to the chase. When we’re referring to ‘dumps’, we mean a very certain kind. Try it as a verb, and in the colloquial sense. Yep, it’s true. 

This unlucky delivery driver for Asda was caught doing his business (a number 2, to be precise) OUTSIDE A CUSTOMER’S HOME. No, we’re not kidding. He even had a handy roll of toilet paper sat on the front seat of his van. Makes you think, doesn’t it? Does he make a habit out of this? We truly hope not.

Although he thinks he may have got away with it, the poor driver was unaware he’d been filmed by the customer. And so, he went viral across various social media channels. Asda picked up on it, of course, and is now trying to locate the driver. 

Be honest. Is it you?

Bolting from the Police in Bolton

Look, if you fancy yourself as one of the drivers in the Fast and Furious, it’s best to hire out a car and take it to a track. What we don’t recommend, is using your van to try to run from the police, of all people. 

This bold driver from Bolton tried to get away from the police and ignored all signs to stop. We don’t think that’s what the manufacturers had in mind when they made Ford Transit Vans, mate. No wonder he got caught.

Naturally, the van driver has been fined and had points added to his licence. Next time, we recommend just renewing your licence, and perhaps you won’t be stopped. So, let’s not go getting any ideas, yeah?

Good Van Drivers Keep Reading

If we’ve got you thinking about your licence and how it may need renewing soon, then hey, you’re already in the right place! 

We have the cheapest van insurance deals here for you. Begin by completing this quick 3-minute form.

Vans & Commercial Vehicles Awards

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You May Be Surprised To Learn That The Top Vans Place For 2022 Was Shared By Four Winners This Year — Yes, FOUR.

WhatCar? released their winners recently. Consequently, we thought what better way is there to kickstart November, than to talk about all the good vans to come? 

Which Vans Won?

Let’s cut to the chase. 

We know you’re all here for the winners, so without further ado, here they are:

  • Citroën e-Berlingo
  • Toyota Proace City Electric
  • Peugeot e-Partner
  • Vauxhall Combo-e 

All electric, these vans were chosen for their practicality and the lovely fact that they’re so cost-effective.

To find out more about the winners, see here.

Who Else Was A Winner?

There were several categories, but we couldn’t possibly name them all in a quick guide.

So, instead, we’ve collated some of the awards that we feel are worth an honourable mention.

Best Large Van

Maxus Deliver 9: a new contender looking to change things in the world of vans, and doing so successfully!

It’s comfy to drive, full of luxury equipment, and is much cheaper than a Ford Transit.

Best Medium Van

Ford Transit Custom: With running costs that are so low you might not believe it.

This highly versatile van is also available as a hybrid. 

Best Small Van

Volkswagen Caddy: A highly desirable van with a brand-spanking new look, and we’re here for it.

It’s more economical to help keep those costs low, and its features are extremely high quality.

Best Compact Van

Ford Transit Courier: Ford may be raking up all the prizes, but for good reason.

Small but powerful, this comfortable van is based on a small Fiesta and is remarkably fun to drive.

Best Van-Based MPV

Ford Tourneo Custom: The perfect all-rounder for any lifestyle – there’s even a bike carrier built inside!

What’s Your Verdict?

What are your thoughts?

Do you agree with the winners that were announced?

We’d love to know, so leave a comment below.

If you are planning on splashing out on a new van, or even if your current one needs its insurance renewing, we’re here to help.

How?

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Let’s Put The Lasers Down, Please…

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This week brings a strange story

Apparently, a Volkswagen Transport van driver decided to experiment with lasers (and his van).

As a result, his actions have cost him dearly.

In fact, we’re talking a whopping £3,000. And that’s just the start of the punishments…

Genius, Or Just Downright Silly?

Mr. Jason Moore of Swansea has been convicted of something that many of us didn’t even think was possible.

Have you ever heard of a laser jamming device?

Well, it turns out Mr. Moore has.

Additionally, he attached one of these laser jammer devices to his Volkswagen Transport van.

You may be asking why on earth anyone would ever want to do that.

Well, this is where it gets interesting.

Mr Moore decided to attach the laser for one simple reason: to avoid speeding cameras. Genius? Or silly?

Now, it’s not like Mr Moore was travelling down the motorway at 90 miles per hour or anything.

In fact, he was driving 12 miles per hour above the speed limit.

However, that speed is enough to endanger other motorists on the road as well as himself.

Driving without due care and attention, perhaps?

Caught Red-Handed

The laser device interferes with cameras’ ability to pick up and read a vehicle’s speed.

Unfortunately for Jason, videos captured the flashing jammer device in action.

Along with error texts when they tried to read the speed of his moving van.

Mr. Moore, thinking he’d gain 15 extra minutes of sleep by dodging speeding fines, got caught.

The court accused him of perverting the course of justice and ordered him to follow a 2-month curfew.

If that wasn’t enough, he will be facing a sentence of 32 weeks of custody (although this has been suspended for a couple of years).

Well, at least he somehow managed to avoid prison, hm?

And so, van drivers (and motorist drivers alike) are taught a valuable lesson.

Let’s not play with lasers, eh?

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Robberies of Parcels and Delivery Vans on the Rise

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We’re in a sombre mood this week as we report on two stories from the UK involving the theft of vans and several packages. Both drivers suffered shock and will surely take some time to recover from the horrid events.

With these two stories coming to light this week, we are reminded even more of the efforts our delivery drivers put in everyday to do their jobs. Stay vigilant, friends.

Awful News from Oxfordshire

The first story is from Oxfordshire, although the robbery took place early last year. The delivery driver was working for Amazon when he was robbed in broad daylight. The thief managed to nab over 100 packages worth more than £2,500, and also drove off with the Amazon van. 

Robson Tereza, the victim, tried to stop the van from leaving but suffered an injury to his hands and knees in attempting to do so. The thieves claimed that Mr Tereza had left his keys in the ignition, but this was refuted. 

The case has been adjourned until the end of this month, so we really hope Robson Tereza gets his justice. For more information, read here. 

Robbery Hell in Hull

The second robbery is far more recent and happened earlier this month in Hull, but involves a Hermes delivery driver. 

This time, it is clear the keys had been left in the van when it was taken. It is estimated that 20 or more parcels were taken, but thankfully the van was discovered by police the next day.

They are, however, appealing for any information as there are currently no suspects. For more information, see here.

How Can Delivery Drivers Stay Safe?

We are hearing more and more about instances like this happening, especially if keys have been left in the ignition.

So, we’d love to hear from our delivery drivers. What do you do to keep safe? Let us know in the comments below. Perhaps we will have enough good advice to create a post about it.

Until then, we’ll leave you with a gift of cheap van insurance deals. Simply click here, add a few details, and we’ll take care of the rest! 

From Delivery Driver to Superhero

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Now, you delivery lot are always receiving praise from us.

We think you go above and beyond in your jobs, every day.

Day after day, you go above and beyond in your work.

Especially in the past couple of years in the midst of a pandemic.

But today, we see how some of you take that extra step, moving closer to becoming superheroes.

Today, we’re excited to salute a true superhero from Edinburgh.

A dedicated ASDA delivery driver, specifically from the Dunbar branch.

Mr Mark Beggs has been cheered as a hero as he used his former soldier training to help save a Transit Van driver after a horrendous crash.

Mr Beggs had only been working with the ASDA branch for some weeks before this happened.

He used quick thinking, remained calm, and did all he could to help save the van driver. 

Basically, he was the type of superhero everyone would want around in times like this.

What Happened?

Mr Beggs was in the delivery van behind the unfortunate van driver, who swerved into a barrier.

While waiting for the ambulances, Mr. Beggs assessed the situation.

With the timely help of a nurse who happened to be passing by, he quickly went into superhero mode.
 
First, he grabbed a tool from his van, typically used to cut cardboard.
 
Using it with precision, he managed to cut through the seatbelt that had been restricting the driver’s breathing.
 
Fortunately, the driver regained consciousness as soon as they cut the belt.
 
Fueled by a surge of adrenaline, he quickly escaped the car.

However, this led to the poor driver collapsing.

Mr. Marks Gebbs and the off-duty nurse stayed with the van driver until the ambulance arrived.

Amongst all this, Mr Gebbs somehow managed to find time to keep his waiting customers updated!

Yep, it completely flabbergasted us too…

Truly a display of pure excellence from this brave man—and, of course, the nurse! As for Mark Grebbs…

We salute you! 

Naturally, we’d love to hear about other superhero delivery drivers out there…

Do you have anyone in mind?

Or have you experienced something similar?

Let us shower you with praise…

Until then, the one thing we can gift you is cheap van insurance quotes.

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No faff or headache required, thank you very much!

…And Then He Woke Up, And It Was All A Dream!

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A refreshing break from the “fuel crisis” and “driver shortages” is called for, we think. So instead, we have a bit of a weird one for you this week. We want to know; what is the weirdest dream you have ever had?

Or, in the case of Paul Luttrell from Somerset, what is the weirdest dream you’ve had whilst in a coma?

Nightmares of delivering for Tesco

Now, we would never wish weird dreams on anyone, least of all a coma. But it is interesting to discuss what is experienced for those that do. 

For Paul Luttrell, who was hospitalised for cancer and Covid-19, it was being forced to work as a delivery driver. Not your average nightmare for most folk, eh? He dreamed of an ordeal where he drove a bedraggled-looking van about a town, making grocery deliveries for Tesco.

However, there was a vital twist that resulted in the dreams becoming nightmares. All the money that poor Paul earned from his deliveries ended up being taken from him and given to a London gang. The best (or worst) part? The leader was a dwarf who would torture him the old-fashioned way — with a defibrillator. Truly terrifying, yet bizarre stuff. We are sure Netflix would be interested in a feature film or television show.

Thankfully, despite the hellish hallucinations, Paul was miraculously discharged and is doing his best to work through his illnesses. You can read more about Paul’s experience of being in a coma, here. We wish you all the best, Paul!

When Dreams Become Reality

For many of us, the reality of being a supermarket delivery driver really is not that bad. Dare we say, some even enjoy it? Although, we guess that is dependent on whether or not you are being forced to hand your earnings over to the dwarf mafia. Hopefully, you’re not.

Our delivery drivers are still out there working hard as usual, despite Covid-19 restrictions having been lifted. There is still a lower number of customers actually going in-store to shop, so home deliveries are as popular as ever. 

So, delivery drivers, we’ve dedicated this post to you! We’ve also provided you with cheap van insurance quotes. Simply fill out this form, and you’ll be on your way to saving in just 3 minutes.

How Sneezing Become Deadly For A Lorry Driver

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Today we bring you a sad story about a sneezing lorry driver.

You may have heard the tragic news already, but if you haven’t, then let this serve as a stark warning.

What Reacting Too Late Can Cost You

The tragic incident of a van driver becoming blind in one eye, and suffering brain damage, happened nearly 3 years ago.

However, the man who was the cause of the accident has just been sentenced.

The event happened due to a lorry driver suffering a sneezing fit.

His reactions were too slow, and unfortunately, he did not slow down in time.

This resulted in a crash between his lorry and the van driver.

It has also been reported that the lorry driver was using cruise control.

Unfortunately, after three years, the van driver, Mr Steven Hurst, still suffers from severe memory loss.

The Price to Pay

The lorry driver will spend a year in prison for his mistake, as well as a driving ban lasting two years.

On top of this, he will carry out 80 hours of work (unpaid).

He will also follow the rules of a strict curfew for half a year, as his sentence has been deferred for 15 months.

However, there is clear remorse from Colin Shaw, as he has accepted his mistake and declared he did not react quickly enough.

He agreed that despite traffic being clear to see for nearly half of a mile, he did not use his brakes in time and was too slow to do so.

A sobering admission.

Van Drivers, Be Vigilant

We know this could happen to any motorist out there, but lorry and van drivers, in particular, deal with long hours.

The tiring effects can be detrimental to driving confidence and ability.

We have even heard about people getting into accidents due to wasps in the car, or something similar.

Our sympathies go out to Mr Hurst and his family.

It is tragic and cannot be helped, but perhaps being aware of what could go wrong can help.

Should things take a tragic turn of events, you’re going to want to make sure you’re covered by good insurance.

Fill out this quick 3-minute form to see how you gain just that, as well as make a saving. 

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