Driving And Consumer Advice For Those Using Van Hire Services
Van hire services are used by all manner of people for a variety of different reasons. For many however hiring a van may be the first time they have driven a larger a vehicle, and one without rear view windows. Ultimately driving a van is completely different from driving a car, the steering will be less responsive, especially when fully laden, it will be harder to observe the road, and hazards not applicable to cars will become readily apparent; the following article hopes to give some safety tips and advice for those using van hire services.
The first piece of advice is when at the van hire company lot it is important to take on board any explanations and driving tips offered by the company representative. Additionally, taking the time to accustom yourself with the vehicle controls is essential; if there are any problems, asking the representative will clear up any issues.
It is vital to wear appropriate driving shoes when hiring a van, often the clutch can be heavy on larger vehicles so the slippers you use to drive your own car may not be suitable. At this stage sitting in the vehicle and adjusting all of the mirrors so you give yourself the widest field of vision is strongly advisable.
Visual information is constantly required when driving a hire van. As with a car, seatbelts should always be worn and before debarkation, shutting all of the cargo doors and side doors will ensure they do not open during transit. For the first few miles of your journey, it is advisable to take your time and get a feel for how it handles and performs.
When actually driving the hire van it is vital that you should be in control of the vehicle at all times. The loss of control is what causes accidents as not being able to stop and manoeuvre will put you and others around you at risk. The size of the hire van should be carefully considered especially when approaching bridges and obstructions such as overhanging trees.
Remember that the turning circle of the van will be considerably larger than a car's. This should be considered when taking tight bends or even turning in the road. The mirrors and raised driving position should be used to the greatest effect, blind spots are larger on vans and hence it is easier to cause an accident when driving a larger vehicle.
In addition it should be remembered that the centre of gravity on the hire van will be higher, subsequently tight corners should be approached slowly. When fully laden the stopping distance of the vehicle should also be considered as it will be far greater due to the increased weight.
In terms of general advice it is always a good idea to plan a journey in detail, taking into account road tolls, low bridges and any other issues that may impede progress. In addition getting a realistic journey time and allowing for this time is advisable, rushing around can cause accidents.
Hopefully this article has made it clear exactly which considerations need to be made when utilising van hire services. If this course of action is followed a good experience should be attainable, research and a conscientious approach is understandably essential if the rental period is to be successful.
Consumer advisor Thomas Pretty highlights key issues surrounding van hire concerned with driver safety.