Some any driver van insurance policyholders are not only responsible for their safety and the safety of others on the road but also for contents of their van. If you're a tradesman, these may be your own valuable tools and equipment that are essential to the running of your business. Perhaps you're a courier and your cargo is made up of goods you're delivering to customers, or you may be a removal van insurance policyholder and have to transport your client's precious belongings, many of which might be fragile.

No matter your business, it is important that you drive in a safe and considerate manner come rain or shine so that you don't have to make any claims on your business van insurance or public liability insurance.

Customers are often on a tight schedule, which means van drivers are too. Whether people are relying on you to help them make the transition between one property and another by a certain date or need a delivery by a certain time on a particular day, drivers work hard to keep to a schedule and do not have the luxury of re-booking jobs for a different day if the weather conditions are poor.

However, although you may feel rushed on occasion, you should take care not to accelerate to a speed which is unsuitable for the road or the weather conditions and puts you and others in danger of suffering an accident.

Stopping distances

You should know how long your vehicle takes to stop in case you run into an emergency on the road.

It is important to remember that there are factors that will increase the stopping distance of your vehicle. In wet weather the stopping distances noted by the Highway Code double to take into account the reduced grip tyres will have on the road. In snow or ice, stopping distances can be up to ten times greater than in dry conditions.

Stopping distances take into account thinking distance – how far you may have travelled before you react and press the brake – and braking distance – how far the vehicle could travel before coming to a standstill once the brake has been applied. So the formula is thinking distance + braking distance = stopping distance.

Here are the stopping distances an average-sized family car in dry weather (these may vary depending on your vehicle).

• Travelling at 20mph – 12 metres til standstill
• Travelling at 30mph – 23 metres till standstill
• Travelling at 40mph – 36m till standstill
• At 50mph – 53m till standstill
• At 60mph – 73m till standstill
• At 70mph – 96m till standstill

As you can see, stopping distances increase dramatically the faster you're travelling, which is why you should never exceed the speed limit.

Another factor to consider is the weight of your van. It is very important to remember that the heavier a vehicle is, the more momentum it will have and the longer it will take to come to a stop after the brake has been applied. The stopping distances above are for cars. If you've filled your van's payload with heavy equipment, parcels, or furniture, the van will travel a greater distance than what is noted above. This is why is crucial for your road safety to never overload your van – not only could it put you in danger, but it could also invalidate your any driver van insurance if you're involved in an accident.

Always take your van's weight into account and brake gently and early to reduce your risk of being involved in an accident.

Your energy levels and state of mind will affect your thinking distance. If you are tired, this can greatly affect your concentration. Please ensure that you are not overworked to the point of exhaustion and make sure you're getting enough rest. And, of course, you must never drive under the influence of alcohol or certain medications that can cause drowsiness and an inability to focus.

Receiving great any driver van insurance

Hopefully you'll never suffer an accident, but in case you do it's good to have cover which suits you and your business needs.

iVan searches through more than 20 top insurance companies' insurance deals and offers to find you the very best quotes.

We can find you great quotes on removal van insurance, courier van insurance, and tradesmen van insurance. Whichever profession you're in, we'll help you find the perfect cover at an affordable cost. After providing us with a few details all you have to do is choose the one you feel is best suited to your company and fill in your details to receive the new policy documents securely by email.

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