36 | MARCH 2019
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
THREE IN TEN THREATENED
WITH OR INVOLVED IN
PHYSICAL ALTERCATION
ON BRITAIN’S ROADS
With three in ten peo-
ple reporting they’ve been
involved in a physical alter-
cation or at least threatened
in the last year, it seems
road safety isn’t the only is-
sue we need to worry about
when we leave the house.
Recent research has
revealed that half of road
users (53%) – whether
they’re motorists, cyclists,
pedestrians, runners or
wheelchair users – have
been or felt intimidated
when they’re out and
about, with people admit-
ting they’ve faced aggres-
sion from other road users
(47%) and have been shout-
ed at (45%), sworn at or
insulted (41%) and tailgated
(67%).
Some 18% of road users
have been threatened phys-
ically and a staggering one
in ten has actually come
to blows! For those people
running or cycling on the
road, the statistics get worse
with one in five joggers be-
ing caught up in a physical
altercation last year and one
in eight cyclists facing the
same. Nearly a third of run-
ners and a fifth of cyclists
said they were left feeling
scared for their safety after
the incident.
The state of UK road rage
and the threat of violence or
anger has left the majority
of road users feeling angry
and stressed out, with
almost one in five telling
researchers that they fear
for their safety.
It is the reason Auto Trad-
er - the UK’s largest mar-
ketplace for new and used
cars – has launched its new
#SwearToChange campaign,
which has been backed
by former Olympic cyclist,
Victoria Pendleton.
Designed to spark a
constructive debate on road
equality, #SwearToChange is
giving away 20,000 items of
free reflective outdoor jack-
ets, back pack covers and
dog-leads to people who
want to be more visible in
the dark, winter months.
In return, Auto Trader
simply wants recipients to
acknowledge and encourage
a change in old attitudes
on UK roads in a bid to
improve road equality.
The campaign is being sup-
ported by Double Olympic
Gold medal winning cyclist
and jockey Victoria Pendle-
ton and British Paralympian
athlete Lauren Steadman.
www.autotrader.co.uk/
swear-to-change
VAN DRIVERS RISKING ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF HEAVY LOADS
Van drivers are risking accidents by failing to leave enough distance to stop, according to research by Volkswagen
Commercial Vehicles, that shows over half of van drivers don’t know how heavy loads impact braking distances.
The majority of van drivers carry up
to half a tonne of equipment on a daily
basis* which can increase braking distances
by up to 36% - equal to an extra five metres
to stop at 60mph – as revealed in exclusive
tests carried out by Volkswagen Commercial
Vehicles**.
The brand conducted a series of brake
tests at the MIRA Proving Grounds in Nune-
aton on its range of vans, with the Caddy,
Transporter and Crafter carrying varying
weights from empty to 500kg at both
30mph and 60mph.
The results revealed that 30mph brak-
ing distances increased by an average of
33% when vans had half a tonne of ballast
on board – equal to an extra two metres
travelled. At 60mph, braking distances
increased by an average of 19%, or five
metres.
But a survey revealed over half of van
drivers couldn’t identify how much longer it
would take to brake when driving a loaded
van, while just 17% could correctly identify
the Highway Code advised 30mph stopping
distances***.
Carl zu Dohna, Director of Volkswagen
Commercial Vehicles, said: “Our Working
With You promise not only means build-
ing safe vans and supporting owners to
keep them in good condition; we take our
responsibilities to van drivers seriously and
this research highlights a lack of knowledge
that could prove lethal.
“Braking distances in the Highway Code
are based on an advised standard and don’t
take into account the loads that many van
drivers carry.”
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is a
leader in van safety as the only manufactur-
er to offer Autonomous Emergency Braking
(AEB) across its range as standard. If AEB
was fitted to all commercial vehicles in the
UK has the potential to stop almost 2,500
crashes per year.
AEB systems also have the potential to cut
third party insurance claims by 45 per cent
meaning lower costs and less time off the
road for van drivers and fleet operators. Vehi-
cles fitted with autonomous emergency brak-
ing also benefit from an average insurance
premium saving of 10 per cent compared to
those without. The insurance rating of the
all-new Crafter was reduced by four groups
thanks to standard fitment of AEB.
www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk