Van drivers risk £703m in fines

Almost half (48%) of UK van drivers admitted that they overloaded their vans last year, despite 89% claiming to know the legal weight restriction for their light commercial vehicle.

This is according to a survey by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Overloading a vehicle by as much as 30% of its gross vehicle weight could lead to a fine of up to £300, meaning the nation’s van drivers are risking a combined £703m in penalties.

The survey found that 66% of drivers aged 18-24 had driven their van overloaded in the year, followed by 63% of over 65 year olds.

A DVSA spokesperson said: “DVSA’s priority is to protect everyone from unsafe drivers and vehicles. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure their vehicle is safe to drive. They should make sure they know the maximum permitted gross vehicle weight and limits on each axle of their vehicle.

“We take enforcement action against drivers and operators who risk people’s lives by overloading or not securely loading their vehicles. Our accessible online guidance provides everyone with the information they need to load their vehicle safely and avoid risking the lives of other road users.”