What does it take for some people (i.e. vans) to slow down?!

[Bezza1969]

We are experiencing some really wet weather just now, everywhere, but particularly down my way on the South Coast. This morning I was picking my way down the A338 Spur Road to Bournemouth,(an unlit, fairly narrow dual carriageway)in driving rain in the dark, where there were really bad levels of standing water. So like most of my fellow early morning commuters, I was doing about 55 MPH, trying to avoid the frequent pools of water that were encroaching into lane one...when hammering past me came one of those Vivaro vans, doing at least 80 MPH...absolutely crazy...

its always the same in my experience, most car drivers slow down when it gets really wet, but the vans just keep going at silly MPH. Question then to van drivers really, what makes so many of you lose all reason when you climb into a van? Even the Audis were generally going slower this morning, but vivaro man?? nahhh....

[judas]

Beats me. The epic stupidity I've witnessed of late defies belief. Some people just have no fking clue

[AMST09]

When I get in my white vivaro nothing can stop me!

Or cars still come past me whilst i'm sat doing 70mph
Most won't slow down until they have a "moment" or a crash, people don't realise how dangerous it is or don't believe it

[0000]

What did he hit?

[Jazoli]

Because most of them are utterly selfish wkers who really don't give a st, I do 50k miles a year in my white Vivaro van and some of the driving I see every day beggars belief.

But it's not just white vans, it's pretty much anybody.

[folos]

I've driven LWB High minibus transits in horrendous conditions, and it scared the absolute st out of me!

All the van drivers I see doing 80-90 in torrential rain, in the dark around a "bendy" dual carriageway must have balls of steel!

[barker22]

Many vans windscreens are at twice the height of car windscreens and usually miss the worst of the spray, thus allowing them to see better in front therefore travel faster perhaps?

[Bezza1969]

Hmm, good to see some responsible vivaro van drivers on here, but I do maintain that proportionately, more nutters are speeding in really bad weather in vans (not just white ones) than in cars...I could be wrong, but I'm assuming this may be due to the fact that many van drivers are driving "works vans" they didn't pay for, mean they care less than people who've stumped up and bought their cars, which are their sole means of transport?

But basically yes, the driving is fecking awful these days. Guess its probably the fact that most of us think the electronics and grippy tyres will get us out of any fix. Wont help you if you aqua plane your car/van at 80 MPH however and take out 3 or 4 cars...

[Six Fiend]

Yeah vans are the only people who do this

Never saw any cars being driven like that in all my courier miles...

Just wait until it snows and all the cars sit in one solid lane of traffic at 5-10 mph while some smart arsed van driver trundles by on the virgin snow in one of the other two available lanes...

[joebongo]

barker22 said:

Many vans windscreens are at twice the height of car windscreens and usually miss the worst of the spray, thus allowing them to see better in front therefore travel faster perhaps?

I think you might have something there. It certainly doesn't look as bad from higher up.

[Horse Pop]

I was once tailgated by a van down this road that was so wet it was basically a river. Driving down a hill (at the limit), losing traction on the side with the water running down it, Vauxhall Vivaro sat on my bumper.

[stuartmmcfc]

Non van drivers perhaps aren't aware of the "hyper car" abilities of a van or the super human reactions of it's driver.
The magic happens when you turn the key

[AMST09]

barker22 said:

Many vans windscreens are at twice the height of car windscreens and usually miss the worst of the spray, thus allowing them to see better in front therefore travel faster perhaps?

makes hardly any difference

[mattuk89]

Travel that road a few times a week... In a van aswell.

[james0]

Van tyres tend to be narrower with deep tread. Much less likely to aquaplane. Also commercial drivers don't keep their jobs too long if they keep bending the works van. So I'm not convinced with the argument that it's mostly van drivers driving like cocks in bad weather, perhaps they're just better at it.

[4key]

Calm down, just because people are driving faster doesnt mean that they are dangerous. Youre only a short step away from complaining about being overtaken down a country lane whilst doing 50, because that is what you deem to be safe. I always take the speeds people quote on here with a pinch of salt, along with phrases like 'bad levels of standing water'

Its a van, its kerb weight is no more than your passat and the driver has the advantage of a higher seated position, a longer wheelbase and probably a lot more hours of tearing about on public roads than you. Im always impressed when I see a vehicle being driven fast and well, a van doing 80 on a dual carriageway is hardly noteworthy.

[RobboC]

Was tailgated by a plumber in an Astravan this morning down a long straight but narrow country road with a heavy camber to each side of the road, and consequently full of water.

The idiot barged pass me and forced me in to the side of the road and nearly into the bank. Suffice to say he got a mouthful at the next junction, tt.

[All that jazz]

AMST09 said:

makes hardly any difference

Rubbish. It makes a huge difference as you can see a lot further ahead.

[PJ S]

james0 said:

Van tyres tend to be narrower with deep tread. Much less likely to aquaplane. Also commercial drivers don't keep their jobs too long if they keep bending the works van. So I'm not convinced with the argument that it's mostly van drivers driving like cocks in bad weather, perhaps they're just better at it.

So they're essentially a better grade of cock?
Surely you're not implying they're weapons grade?

[AMST09]

It's hardly any different in regards to spray, just got out my van 2 hours ago, it wasn't raining but had my wipers on constant due to spray