Advances in van safety technology could be undermined by dangerous overloading, the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders has warned.
Almost nine in ten (88.5%) of the 2,381 vans weighed by the DVSA last year were found to be overloaded, a worse record than in2014 when 84% of the 3,337 vans checked were illegal.
Manufacturers are offering increasing levels of safety on the latest vehicles. Around a quarter of vans currently on sale in the UK are available with advanced collision warning systems, for example. But for all the benefits that advanced safety technology brings, an overloaded or poorly loaded van can still pose a risk to its driver and other road users, adding vital metres to braking distances and affecting its handling.
Mike Hawes, the SMMT’s Chief Executive, said it was a concern that this in-use safety record remains so poor. “Manufacturers are investing significant amounts in new safety technology, but this can only do part of the job,” he said. “We continue to urge operators and owners to comply with the law to keep themselves and others safe, avoid the risk of fines and keep the threat of further legislation at bay.”
While anyone operating an HGV is subject to strict rules under the Operator Licensing regime, this does not apply to vehicles under 3.5 tonnes – in other words, the vast majority of vans. No move has yet been made to extend Operator Licensing to vans and the SMMT is keen to see the safety record improve, to ensure that this (and a potential £2.6 billion in extra costs for operators) continues to be avoided.
The SMMT works closely with the DVSA, as well as other industry bodies, to help the van sector stay clear of burdensome regulation. Operators and owners looking to ensure their van complies with weight regulations can refer to DVSA’s handy Van Smart video guide available at www.safedrivingforlife.info/drivers-and-riders/drivers/van-smart.
“Overloading continues to be a real issue on our roads, and drivers and businesses need to carefully consider their legal responsibility towards vehicle weight compliance, so we fully support the SMMT’s latest important van safety message,” DVSA Compliance Service Manager Gordon Macdonald said.
For a simple, step-by-step guidance on how best to maintain their vans, operators can visit www.smmt.co.uk/vansafety.
