Red Corporate Driver Training has backed calls from an influential road safety lobby for increased training requirements for van drivers, spotlighting how they could save lives in the UK.

Red Corporate Driver Training Seb Goldin

The European Transport Safety Council has written to MEPs asking for an extension to the use of Certificates of Professional Competence (CPCs) to van drivers, creating a potential B+ category covering commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.

Although the legislation would apply to drivers of affected vehicles driving for hire or reward in the EU, the legislation wouldn’t bear on UK licence holders driving here.

But Red has said such a move would be highly beneficial for road safety this side of the Channel.

Seb Goldin, CEO, said: “At a time when the UK Government is deregulating several aspects of the commercial driver licensing system, it is vital that road safety is not simply ignored.

“While the ETSC’s proposals will not impact UK regulations directly, they are a positive step forward and recognition of the need to deal with the growing number of van drivers on the roads (up by 37% in the last decade to nearly 4.5 million vans).

“Also, the average age of a van on our roads is 8.9 years old, meaning it will lack many of the more modern safety features we now take for granted.”

Goldin added that operators should consider giving drivers extensive training before being handed the keys to a van.

“There are so many aspects to consider, including safe loading and unloading, securing cargo, reversing, fatigue prevention, journey planning, adherence to traffic rules and the change to electric, too.

“We may no longer be in the EU, but massive strides were made in road safety when we were, and it would be a shame for all that hard work to go to waste through deregulation for deregulation’s sake.”