One in three van drivers admit to injuring other motorists due to careless clutter in their vehicle

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  Posted by: electime      14th March 2023

  • A survey of 1,000 UK van drivers by Comparethemarket reveals that 46 per cent have been involved in at least one accident due to distractions caused by the clutter in their vehicle
  • Over one in six (16 per cent) say no injuries were caused to themselves or anyone else, however, one in three (30 per cent) admit to injuring either themselves or someone else.
  • Respondents in Manchester, London and Newcastle have been involved in the most accidents that involved injuring themselves and those in another vehicle

With government figures indicating that there were over 4,600 road casualties involving goods vehicles in 2021, research by Comparethemarket reveals almost half (46 per cent) of van drivers they spoke to had been involved in an accident due to distractions caused by the clutter in their vehicle.

Whilst over one in six (16 per cent) say no injuries were caused to themselves or anyone else, one in three (30 per cent) admit to injuring either themselves or a third party.

Tools and appliances were revealed as the biggest causes of clutter

The top five items causing clutter in vans:

Item Per cent of respondents that have unsecured items in their van
Tools and appliances 36
Food and drink packaging 34
Clothing and accessories such as workwear or footwear 29
Waste or rubbish 19
Debris such as sawdust or cement 18

When asked about distractions from unsecured clutter, more than a quarter (26 per cent) of drivers revealed that they have had items roll near their brake or accelerator pedals – a very serious safety concern.

A further 17 per cent also expressed that their view from the front window had been blocked due to items on the dashboard – another potential hazard if their view is obstructed.

Despite over half (57 per cent) of respondents noting that they get distracted by clutter, only one in seven (13 per cent) remove the mess a few times per week, and 11 per cent have a clear-out once per week.

Locations experiencing the most accidents due to cluttered vans:

City Per cent of respondents that have been involved in an accident due to distractions caused by clutter in their vehicle
Manchester 36
London 25
Newcastle 24
Bristol 23
Nottingham 20

According to the research, respondents in Manchester, London and Newcastle have been involved in the most accidents causing injury to themselves or others, due to distractions from clutter in their vehicles.

Tips to avoid clutter in your van

Clutter in your vehicle can cause distractions which in turn could increase your risk of having an accident. Therefore, if you are currently driving a messy van, like almost two in five (38 per cent) of respondents, Comparethemarket shares quick tips to keep your van tidy and safe from clutter:

  1. Stow and strap in big items
  • Make sure any tools or equipment are stowed away safely in the back of your van, away from your seat, pedals, and windscreen. It is also worth investing in lashing eyes and ratchet straps to strap down your cargo and keep it in place. If you don’t use straps it could result in damaged equipment or possible injury when opening the doors.
  1. Drive slowly and steadily
  • Even if you’ve secured your items, going over bumps or breaking hard can cause things to become loose. Be sure to drive steadily and at the speed limit, to reduce the chance of items moving and potentially causing an accident.
  1. Repurpose your carrier bags
  • If you tend to have lots of food or drink packaging or other waste in your vehicle, keep a carrier bag handy where you can store your rubbish until you reach your destination. You should aim to keep this upright and in a spot which doesn’t clutter the floor or impair your vision.

Commenting on the research, Julie Daniels at Comparethemarket, says: “Even minor distractions can cause accidents whilst you’re on the road and that’s why drivers should make an extra effort to cut back on clutter and reduce avoidable mistakes.

With a van, it may be hard to keep clean, but safety should come first. Drivers should ensure that items are stowed safely and away from particularly hazardous areas such as the pedals or windscreen.”

For further tips on how to safely secure items in the back of your van visit: https://www.comparethemarket.com/van-insurance/content/hazardous-vans/