Tag: #vaninsurance

Why Proper Vehicle Compliance Is Crucial For Road Safety

Posted on by News Desk

Road safety..

Wilts specialist ops #RPU stopped this van on M4 as it appeared overloaded.

The van was over 20% overweight, the driver had no insurance, and held a license for automatic vehicles only.

Furthermore, this van was definitely a manual!

As a result, the driver was fined and reported.

There are several reasons why this incident is important.

Road Safety

Overloading a vehicle can cause significant safety risks for the driver and other road users.

Consequently, it is crucial to address this issue to ensure road safety.

It can affect the handling of the vehicle, therefore increasing the stopping distance.

Moreover, it can potentially damage the brakes and suspension.

Insurance

Driving without insurance is illegal and can result in significant fines and penalties.

It’s important for all drivers to have appropriate insurance coverage to protect themselves and others in the event of an accident.

Licensing

Driving a vehicle that is outside the scope of a driver’s licence can result in fines, penalties, and potentially legal action if an accident occurs.

It’s important for drivers to ensure they have the appropriate licence for the vehicles they are operating.

Enforcement Of Road Safety

This incident highlights the importance of enforcement efforts by the police .

They ensure that drivers are complying with the law and not putting themselves or others at risk on the road.

By stopping this van and taking appropriate action, the police are helping to improve safety and reduce the risk of accidents on the road.

Conclusion

This incident involving an overloaded van driven by an unlicensed driver with no insurance highlights several important issues related to road safety.

Firstly, overloading a vehicle can pose significant safety risks to both the driver and other road users.

Moreover, driving without appropriate insurance coverage or a valid license is illegal and can result in substantial fines and penalties.

By taking appropriate action, the police are helping to improve safety and reduce the risk of accidents on the road.

Why Get Fined? Just Pay Up And Avoid The Hassle

Posted on by News Desk

It really isn’t worth the effort some van drivers will go to, trying to avoid paying fines.

One recent example follows.

A van driver had been speeding in a 60mph zone (doing between 72-74mph).

He received a rather grainy image of the white transit van, since he was the registered owner.

This was accompanied by a request for details of the driver at the time,

along with a notice of intended prosecution.

Honesty Is The Best Policy: Not For This Van Driver

The easiest (and most honest) option of course would have been to own up and pay the fine.

Not forgetting the three points on his licence.

Sadly, this van driver decided he would try quite hard to avoid paying anything at all.

Even though he knew he was behind the wheel at the time.

He decided to go to some extreme measures to avoid prosecution.

He bought black and red stripes to stick on the vehicle, a GB number plate, and a 60mph limit sticker to go with it.

300 Hours Of Investigations For This Van Driver!

After some 300 hours of following and investigating, officers actively compared earlier photographs of the van to those taken after they issued the fine.

They determined definitively that the registered owner had been speeding

Of course, this was a costly exercise for the local constabulary.

Things Were Not About To Get Any Better

The 62-year-old had to finally appear in court.

He was told that he was in a much worse position than had he just owned up and paid the fine.

The extent he went to in order to avoid the fine had used up a considerable amount of taxpayer’s money and time spent investigating.

Ouch!

The driver had six previous convictions and points on his licence.

The judge sentenced him to four months in prison (suspended for 12 months) and banned him from driving for six months.

Finally, he had to pay a £500 fine towards costs.

Hopefully, he has learned a lesson in honesty!

Delivery Driver Woes

A couple of teenage boys surprised a female delivery driver in Coventry by opening the van door and threatening her with a machete.

The pair, aged 14 and 15 at the time, demanded the van keys.

Thankfully, the delivery driver didn’t hand over the keys but instead bravely managed to take the machete away from them.

Not before they had stolen her mobile phone though.

Once she grabbed the machete, the pair ran off, which is hardly surprising. However, police with sniffer dogs later caught them.

Police arrested them on suspicion of robbery and possession of a large knife, and they continued questioning them while in custody.

The police have issued a warning to delivery drivers to be aware of potential robberies, especially with the run-up to Christmas and the usual increase in parcels in their vans.

 

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The Hidden Dangers Of A Messy Van: Why Clutter Could Cost You Big

Posted on by News Desk

How many drivers have messy vans?

It probably didn’t start that way.

But over time, life gets busy, and you’ll “tidy up next time.”

We all know “next time” rarely comes.

Suddenly, you’ve got cans, coffee cups, and wrappers piling up in the cab.

Sound familiar?

But is it really a problem?

Actually, yes—it can be.

Imagine something on the floor rolling over to the driver’s compartment.

What could happen then?

Two things are likely.

You need to brake, but there’s something lodged under the pedals.

Or, you decide to move it—and now, you’re distracted.

Both situations can lead to serious consequences.

If your van’s too messy, you could even face fines and points on your licence.

Did you know?

While there’s no specific law against a messy van, Rules 117-121 and 144 of the Highway Code might still apply.

Law enforcement, for instance, could easily notice you struggling with clutter.

As a result, depending on the severity, you might face a fine of up to £5000.

And in the unfortunate case where a fatality occurs due to distraction?

A prison sentence may inevitably follow.

Think it’s rare?

Apparently, millions of drivers leave rubbish in their vehicles.

But if your van looks more like a skip, it’s time to clean up.

Take it home.

But don’t throw rubbish out of the window.

Rule 147 of the Highway Code prohibits that too.

This includes cigarette ends and all that clutter.

Remember, it’s about consideration for others—especially cyclists and motorcyclists.

Is your insurance up to date?

Now’s a good time to check.

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Van Driver Fails You Won’t Believe: Stuck in Sand and Under Bridges

Posted on by News Desk

Stuck In The Middle With You

Well, actually, it was more like stuck in the sand for one unlucky AA van driver.

The call seemed straightforward: rescue a stranded van and driver at Porth Beach in Newquay.

But things didn’t go as planned.

The AA van itself got stuck in the sand.

Locals quickly jumped into action.

They worked alongside the AA driver to free both vehicles.

We can only assume the original stranded driver joined the efforts too.

It took nearly an hour to free both vehicles.

But this wasn’t an isolated incident.

It’s not the first time the AA has ended up stuck while responding to a rescue.

On a previous occasion, even a tow truck was required to save both vehicles.

Why Does This Keep Happening?

Over Easter, a Transporter van and a Mazda car met the same sandy fate.

The story doesn’t end there.

Just down the road at Great Western Beach, it’s a regular occurrence.

In the past year, more than a dozen cars have needed rescue from the sand.

Why Are People Driving Onto The Beach?

It’s a good question.

Maybe they didn’t feel like walking.

Hopefully, they’ll think twice before trying it again.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Now, let’s talk about another kind of stuck.

One unfortunate van driver found themselves in a different predicament.

Not in the sand this time.

But wedged under a bridge.

The road had to be closed.

Despite numerous warnings about the low bridge, the van became firmly lodged.

How Could This Happen?

Above the bridge, there’s bright yellow writing.

It clearly states LOW BRIDGE.

There are also multiple signs alerting drivers to the height restriction.

Yet bridge strikes still happen.

Didn’t They See The Signs?

Some drivers seem to think they can squeeze through.

Or maybe they just don’t notice the warnings.

Reality hits fast.

A van measuring 7’3” simply won’t fit under a 7-foot bridge.

What happens next?

Deflating the tyres is often the only way to get unstuck.

That’s four flat tyres.

If you’re lucky, it might work.

But maybe, just maybe, it’s time to pay more attention to those signs.

Better check your insurance to see if it covers getting stuck in unusual places then.

Luckily for you, it won’t take long at all with our quick 3-minute form.

 

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