Vans ‘should be allowed to drive in bus lanes and get right of way at junctions’
Penning a letter to Government this week, a major leasing company wants vans to be given the same rights as buses and taxis - and they have even claimed 'Great Britain would grind to a halt' if it weren't for our nation's vans
WHITE van man should be allowed to drive in bus lanes and have other cars give way to them, according to a major leasing company.
LeaseVan.co.uk claims van drivers "are the life blood of the UK economy" and should have priority over other road users - just like buses and taxis.
A spokesperson for the company this week penned a letter to transport secretary Chris Gayling, calling for van drivers to be given more rights on the road.
In the letter, the spokesperson said vans should have the same priority as buses and taxis during busy periods, allowing them to meet delivery deadlines by avoiding traffic.
Identifying the work of van drivers across a number of different industries, the letter called for more "respect" for those motorists.
It even went as far as claiming that "Great Britain would grind to a halt" if it weren't for the work of van drivers.
In the letter to Grayling, a spokesman for LeaseVan.co.uk said: “Britain’s army of van drivers are the life blood of the UK economy.
“Without their tireless actions Great Britain would grind to a halt. Could you imagine a world without builders or plasterers? Without plumbers or electricians? Us neither.
“Yet these essential professions are penalised every day by having to share roads with leisure drivers, commuters and parents on school runs.
“Van drivers are forced to look on powerless at empty bus and taxi lanes while they edge along in rush hour traffic.
“Often these tradesmen and women will be on their way to an urgent job - perhaps someone’s home is flooded, a wall has toppled over or an electricity supply has failed. It makes little difference, the van driver is still at the mercy of the road network.
“Buses and taxis have priority lanes, why not van drivers too? It makes common sense to utilise these lanes for van drivers and it will ease traffic congestion for car drivers too.
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“Let’s give our van drivers the respect they deserve by introducing measures which give them right of way, which take them out of the jams and lets them get on with the job.
“At this time of Brexit uncertainty it would send a clear message that Britain is open for business and even the van drivers are fully supported.”
According to the van leasing company, they are still waiting on a response from the transport secretary.