Tag: November

Every Little Helps?

Posted on by News Desk

We hate to be harbingers of doom in a gloomy November, with a cold snap on the horizon for all of us, but more bad news this week for many van drivers, thanks to the PM, Boris Johnson, who has announced that he is bringing forward plans to see Britain go all electric with vehicles from 2030.

While this is a blow to motorists, some of the hardest hit maybe you, the humble van drivers of the UK. While electric cars cost a packet, (and many government critics are saying the move to electric vehicles will prevent the poorest people of the UK from being able to afford a car), the case is worse for van drivers, with the cost of a new electric van coming in at around £20k for the most basic models. 

Not to mention, of course, that you have to find somewhere to charge the thing, which is bad news if you live in a flat or somewhere with no off-street parking. (As if worrying about van security isn’t bad enough). And if you’re a delivery driver, there’s the added stress of worrying about electric automated drop-off vans, drones and robots coming to take your jobs. 

While many big businesses with van fleets appear to be in favour of the move, they are of course, failing to consider, you, the little guys, who depend on the fuel efficiency of diesel or the reliability of a petrol van to get you from A to B without needing to stop off and charge up a vehicle you possibly can’t even afford. 

As always, it seems that the little guys are going to be the hardest hit. While we can’t do much more than voice our concern and suggest that the government needs to consider implementing substantial subsidies to help van drivers of the UK make the switch to electric vehicles, we can, as always, ensure you get the best deals on your van insurance. It isn’t much, but it’s something. And right now, as a famous supermarket once said, ‘every little helps.

It’s that time of year…

Posted on by News Desk

No, not when Britain locks down again, although it is starting to seem like an endless hamster wheel of doom and gloom. Hopefully for many of you, life will go on and work will continue and you won’t be putting in extra hours as a result of the new lockdown.

But it is the time of year when the days are shorter and winter driving comes into play. So, it’s a smart move to keep on top of what’s going on with your van, and doing what you can to keep things in good working order. A lot of issues and van trouble can be pre-empted by a bit of home maintenance and regular checks to keep things ticking over. 

Get in the habit of walking round your van each day before you set off to give it a quick check over. Are your lights working? Are your tyres all looking okay? Check the tyre pressures weekly, while you’re at it.  Are all your doors secure and your fuel cap tight?

We spoke about van security last week, but it’s important to keep an eye on any doors or windows which could do with some extra security. Always try and park it somewhere that you can see it. 

Regular services are a must. At least once every 10,000 miles is necessary. Make sure you keep everything safe, secure and road-worthy, especially as the weather is getting worse – and make sure you have breakdown recovery, just in case you need it – this weather is not the time to be broken down in the middle of nowhere with no help at hand. 

And of course, make sure your van insurance policy is up to the job. Goes without saying, really.

We’ll talk more about the lockdown and what it means for van drivers next week, but in the meantime, stay safe. 

White Van Men Are Great In Bed, Study Finds

Posted on by News Desk

Well, well well. If this wasn’t something you didn’t already know but are bloody chuffed to read again, here it is…

White van men are good in bed. It’s official! And, as your cheerleaders and (un)official sponsors of white van men and women everywhere, we felt we simply had to share it!

The poll, commissioned by online doctor service, Zava, decreed that while white van men were king of making the moves between the sheets, while tradesmen, managers and house-husbands all left a lot to be desired (probably something to do with the hunky WMV down the road). 

A huge 20% of all the respondents in the survey, white van men included, said stress was a major issue that hampered their love-lives. 

While many men of the 1035 surveyed said at some points in time that they struggled to rise to the occasion, most said that they felt unable to talk to their partner or their doctor about it, and 17% had secretly resorted to taking little blue pills to help alleviate the issue.  Over 60% of managers admitted to struggling to get things moving, 20% more than those who work in skilled or semi-skilled jobs, such as white van men. And the good news is you can feel a little bit sorry for all the rich gits swanning around in their fancy cars and posh suits. Those earning between £60,000 – £100,000 were most likely to report ED issues, the study found.

Something that others, who aren’t white van men, have observed is that there’s something very primal and macho about being a white van man (as if you didn’t know), which probably contributes to their stellar performance in the bedroom. If you’re spending all day being macho and manly, it makes sense that carries on home to your private life. It’s just a more blokey way to live and comes with a certain power and status that other road-users simply can’t muster. 

So, you can keep your suits, and your flash cars and give your van a little pat on the bonnet for making you what you are. A tiger in the bedroom. As soon as you’ve helped the wife with the washing up, that is. 

Winter Driving – Are you prepared?

Posted on by News Desk

As winter spreads its icy tendrils out over our green and pleasant land, most of us don’t do anything to prepare either ourselves or our vans for winter. But the days are most definitely shorter, and the north of the country has already seen its first snow, and some are saying it’s going to be our worst winter for a while. So here at CVI, in the name of being responsible writers, we thought we’d arm you with our top tips for staying safe this winter.

  1. Give yourself more space to the car in front. Yes, we know this goes against everything many van drivers believe, but being bumper to bumper with the car in front isn’t actually a good idea, especially in winter. Slowing down and giving yourself more space to the vehicle in front, so you have a greater chance of recovering the van if you do lose control can be the difference between life and death – not just yours, but of other vehicles around you. 
  2. Check your van is ready for the road. That means checking your tyre pressures are ok, (even better if you have a set of winter tyres for this time of year), your fluids are topped up, including some de-icer in your screen wash, your van battery is working well and you have a personal emergency kit ready if you need it. That includes water, a blanket or duvet and a couple of little snack bars to keep you going if you do get stuck. It’s recommended that you check your type pressure each week to be safe. Also check your roadside emergency kit is complete, your fire extinguisher is tested and you have everything you should have.
  3. Winter tyres are worth the investment. They will ensure you have better grip in the ice and snow, are less likely to aquaplane in the wet and the compound is better suited to winter conditions. Invest in a set and they should last you for years to come. 
  4. Do you know how to handle your van in case of a spin or a skid? Just thinking through and visualising how you’d handle this will leave you better prepared than just winging it in the moment. 
  5. Keep everything clean. Again, we know keeping your van clean isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but ensuring windscreens, lights and wiper blades are clean and in good working order can help keep your vision of the road at its best.
  6. Give yourself extra time. When the weather is bad, don’t just assume you’ll get from A to B in your usual time. You won’t, and rushing to get there is putting your life in danger when conditions are bad. 
  7. Try to avoid stopping on hills in snowy and icy conditions. Use a low gear to get to the top, because once you’ve stopped on a steep hill, getting going again, especially in a heavy van, is easier said than done. 
  8. Make sure your van insurance is up to date and you have enough cover for the contents. If you’re delivering Christmas gifts, check your policy covers the full value of what you’re carrying. The cheapest van insurance policy often isn’t the best. Thankfully, this is something we can help with, by filling out our form and getting the pick of the best deals and offers available.

All these things can help to keep you safe, keep other road users safe and make sure you’re around for the joys of spring, even if it does feel as if that’s a very long time to wait still. 

Why you may be feeling SAD…

Posted on by News Desk

While the majority of our readers here at CVI are waiting each week with baited breath to read out latest news, it appears that one or two of you may be nodding off… at the wheel.

Yes, in shocking news from Motoring Research, they found that almost half of all van drivers have, at some point, fallen asleep at the wheel. And now the clocks have gone back, van drivers up and down the country are even more likely to feel tired and struggle with their moods during the shorter days and longer nights.

The study of 2,000 van drivers found that 83% of respondents said that tiredness was a greater issue for them during the autumn and winter months, and 45% said that they find their mood to be affected by the change of seasons. And why wouldn’t you? Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect many of us in countries with short winter days, and long dark nights, and while treatment is surprisingly straightforward, it appears to be something that many people are embarrassed to seek medical help for.

Going back to falling asleep at the wheel – if you are feeling a little drowsy, what should van drivers who are feeling sleepy to do? Well, it’s been proven that simply opening the window doesn’t work, so that’s 58% of the respondents to the survey who aren’t doing the right thing. At all. Instead, the guidance is to pull over and take a 15-45-minute nap, and thankfully 2/3 of the van drivers said that they do actually this when they are really tired. 

But if you do feel that it’s a little more than a bad night’s sleep and this time of year brings a repeat of the same symptoms, the advice is simple, make sure you lay off the caffeine and alcohol, get a regular sleep pattern, take some form of exercise to boost endorphins and tire you a little and seek medical advice if you feel that you are a sufferer of SAD (Seasonal Affective disorder). If going to the doctors is too much, you could also invest in a SAD light for yourself. Just 10 minutes a day is enough to help make those depressing dark mornings a tad less terrible. 

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