Here’s a Trick They Don’t Teach You in Van Driver Training

Have you seen the video from this past September (2014) involving the two white delivery vans travelling down the M5 motorway near Halesowen? Occupants of both vans pull off a trick they don’t teach you in van driver training: they passed a drinks bottle between themselves – at 60 mph. The entire dangerous episode was caught on camera by a part-time chauffeur and photographer driving behind them.

According to 58-year-old Paul Donovan, the two vans across several lanes of traffic before coming close enough together to pass the drink between them. It’s not clear whether the occupant of the van on the right side was a passenger or the driver himself. In either case, Donovan said he thought for sure the vans would come together during the stunt. A crash or an amputated arm could have been the result, had it happened.

The Telegraph reported in November that police were using Donovan’s footage from the event to track down the drivers of both vans. We do not know if they have been successful to this point. The one thing we do know is that such careless driving is uncalled for. Not only did it endanger the lives of the two van drivers, it also put everyone else on the motorway at risk.

The Brake charity’s Philip Goose was not afraid to tell The Telegraph what he thought about the stunt. He referred to it as both ‘dangerous” and “irresponsible’, calling on the drivers to be caught and punished. Goose reminded readers that five people die on British roadways every day; an additional 61 more are seriously injured.

Lack of Professionalism

We do not know if the two individuals driving the vans in question are professionals or not. However, if they are, what they did back in September lacks any degree of professionalism whatsoever. Professional drivers who have completed comprehensive van driver training know how dangerous this sort of driving is; we hope true professionals would never engage in such activity.

Here at the HGV Training Centre, driver safety is of utmost importance to us. We understand that every student we put through our training classes is a student who will eventually be sitting behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle. We expect those drivers to follow the law and common standards of safety whenever driving professionally.

We offer van driver training along with classes for HGV and PCV licences. To begin training with us, you only need a valid car licence and the ability to pass a routine medical exam administered by your GP or an approved private physician. We can even help you to make sure all of your paperwork is in order when applying for your provisional entitlement.

The HGV Training Centre is a leading provider of commercial driver training throughout the UK. We operate more than 45 facilities staffed by professionals who can get you trained and ready for your practical skills test in a matter of weeks.

Sources:

1. The Telegraph – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11220500/Van-driver-passes-a-drink-to-passenger-of-another-vehicle-at-60mph.html