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Half of all vans are driven overloaded, says VW
Date: 02 July 2015 | Author: Daniel Puddicombe
Nearly half (45%) of all van drivers are behind the wheel of overloaded vans on UK roads, according to research by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
The analysis found that half of all businesses don't monitor the weights of their company vehicles, while 53% of drivers don't know their vehicle's maximum load carrying capacity.
The German manufacturer questioned 500 van drivers and 250 fleet managers in the UK.
VW also found that 73% of van drivers are unsure about the effects of overloading on the vehicle's performance, while nearly a quarter are unaware of the legal penalties they face if stopped on the road.
The DVSA stopped 10,800 vans on UK roads and found that 89% were overloaded.
"It's important that businesses choose the right van for the job to avoid unnecessary overloading. Typical cargo volume and knowledge of gross vehicle weight should be taken into consideration before setting off to ensure the safety of the driver and other road users," said Trevor Hodgson-Phillips, head of service and parts at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
