Does the Stereotypical "white Van Man" Still Exist? By Julia Niven At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Ever since Radio 2 DJ Sarah Kennedy coined the phrase “White Van Man” in 1997, drivers of these ubiquitous commercial vehicles have been tarnished with a reputation that precedes them wherever they drive.

Hearing the phrase “White Van Man” instantly conjures up images of aggressive, intimidating and discourteous male drivers who hog the road, tailgate old ladies, flash their lights, regularly line their arteries in greasy spoon cafes (when they’re not on the road), drive recklessly with no regard for their fellow road users, display several copies of The Daily Star on the dash and can’t drive past a pretty girl without commenting on her pleasing appearance.

But are all drivers of white vans guilty of these crimes against motoring? It all seems a bit of a joke, but the true “White Van Man” is in a small minority and there are respectful and careful white van men (and ladies) out there too, who are paying the price for their reckless cousins’ anti-social actions. Business owners are having to pay higher van insurance premiums, even though the drivers they employ may in fact be careful and respectful road users.

White Van Man has, rightly or wrongly, a terrible reputation on the UK’s roads. All of us, at some time or another, will have experienced that breed of commercial vehicle driver who drives so close that you can’t even see his headlights, who pulls out in front of you with no warning, and who aggressively flashes his lights and gestures colourfully at the decent, responsible motoring public for daring to share the same road space as him. The true “White Van Man” is right up (or down) there with football hooligans when it comes to social undesirability. But for every one of these van-wielding Neanderthals, there are thousand of careful van drivers (and of course, though in a minority, some are female) who are battling this stereotype every day.

While all van drivers have a job to do, and most do it in a timely fashion with consideration for other road users, the belief of the “White Van Man” that their job is more important and time-restricted than others, combined with the belief that the road does in fact belong to them alone, may lead to their aggressive stance on the road. Most “White Van Men” also generally work within their local area and know all the short cuts and roads better than taxi drivers, so if you get in their way and slow them down…prepare for those flashing lights and blaring horns.

For most responsible and careful commercial van drivers, their vehicle is a crucial tool of their trade. The high cost of fuel, congestion charges and more make this essential element of their business an increasingly expensive one, made even worse by the lack of access to cheap van insurance because of the undeserved reputation that precedes them.

However, there is hope on the horizon for white van drivers who feel maligned and out of pocket because of their high company van insurance premiums. Some insurance companies will now offer lower priced commercial van insurance to individuals who have earned a bonus on their private car. Finally, justice for the considerate white van drivers, who can at last distance themselves from that aggressive and dangerous reputation, at least when it comes to cheap van insurance.

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