Van drivers missing more work days through injury
About a quarter of UK van drivers had time off work last year after sustaining loading-related injuries.
According to research carried out by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, 28% of van drivers suffered loading-related injuries during 2023, with 88% of them missing work as a result.
While the number of van driver injuring themselves loading or unloading their vehicles is six per cent down on the previous year, the proportion of those taking time off to recover has increased, as has the duration of absence.
The analysis found that on average drivers sustaining loading-related injuries missed 5.79 days of work, which is up 17% of 2022. One in 10 missed more than 13 days due to injury.
It is estimated that each day lost cost companies £550 per van.
Van drivers
More encouragingly, the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles survey revealed a significant improvement in the number of UK van drivers adhering to their vehicles’ legal weight restrictions when loading their vans – increasing from 52% last year to 70%, with 94% of respondents now claiming to know the legal weight restrictions for their vans.
Overloading a vehicle can result in fines of £300, meaning this increased awareness is not only improving road safety but saving businesses significant sums.
