Does increased mileage result in increased damage? – More vans covering more mileage than Pre-Covid
Since the pandemic, the rise in home shopping and delivery services has seen a rapid increase in both the number of vans and the mileage performed by them on UK roads. There are almost 4.8 million registered vans on UK roads, a rise of 600,000 from since 2019, with vans accounting for 58.7 billion miles in the first half of 2024, a rise of 10.4% on pre-pandemic levels.
Vans now cover 18% of all miles driven in Great Britain, with HGVs making up 5% and 76% being cars.
However, despite the increase in van traffic on the roads, there has been a 10% decrease in accidents involving vans. According to the latest government figures vans were involved in 7,878 accidents in 2023, a dramatic reduction since 2019 and also the first time the figure has been below 8,000 since the pandemic.
In fact, the number of accidents has been in steady decline for the past 10 years, with 2014 figures sitting 30% higher than 2023. Despite this fall in accidents however, the number of deaths involving vans has increase from 155 in 2014 to 170 in 2023, an alarming statistic highlighting the need for improved driver training, and an increased awareness from drivers to prevent accidents.
As a mobile service operator, Revive! are no strangers to the increase in vans and small commercial vehicles on UK roads. We understand the dangers a larger vehicle can pose, particularly at the hands of inexperienced drivers. Drivers who are more used to cars may misjudge gaps, underestimate stopping distances, and generally not appreciate the size of their vehicles. These miscalculations can at best lead to a bumper scuff, at it’s worst however it can lead to a significant financial impact to both the driver and the fleet operator of the vehicle.
Revive! encourage drivers to take care on the roads, particularly when behind the wheel of unfamiliar vehicles. With proper driver training and understanding of the differences between a car and a van, any driver should be capable of using a van safely and efficiently, reducing road deaths and hopefully reducing the number of bumps vans are involved in.
For those who do find themselves in a scrape, Revive! regularly works with fleet management companies to provide high quality cosmetic vehicle repairs, whether that be at your premises or your customer’s home. Revive! offer the flexibility of local technicians backed by the professionalism and outstanding customer service of a large national organisation.
We can provide repairs when fleet vehicles get damaged, refresh cars for employee changeover and assist fleets with pre-handover inspections before the end of the vehicle lease to minimise penalty costs.
If you are interested in our repair services, please get in touch with our team now!
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