The main goal of the proposed revision is to strengthen road safety and contribute to the EU’s ambitious target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by the year 2030. The organizations behind the open letter argue that the introduction of mandatory training for professional van drivers is essential in achieving this objective.
Vans have assumed a significant role in road crashes within the European Union, with their usage on the rise. Startling statistics from 2018 reveal that 11% of all road deaths, equivalent to 2630 lives, resulted from accidents involving vans. What is particularly concerning is that 39% of these fatalities were pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
The surge in van usage can be attributed to several factors, including increased demand, daytime urban operations, nighttime deliveries, and the flourishing e-commerce sector. Unfortunately, the pressure to meet market demands, fierce competition in the transport industry, and a relative lack of stringent regulations have led to poor working conditions for van drivers, thereby posing significant safety risks.
A critical issue raised in the open letter is the disparity in regulations between vans weighing less than 3.5 tonnes and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). HGV operators and drivers are required to obtain Certificates of Professional Competence (CPCs) that must be periodically updated, ensuring high safety standards. However, the vast majority of van traffic, which operates within national borders, falls under less strict regulations. Only LGVs exceeding 2.5 tonnes and operating across EU borders will be subject to EU rules for driving and resting times by 2026.
To enhance road safety, the organizations are advocating for comprehensive training for professional van drivers, covering various aspects such as safe loading and unloading, cargo securing, reversing, fatigue prevention, journey planning, and strict adherence to traffic rules, including seatbelt usage and avoiding distractions. Research cited in a recent European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) report on van safety has revealed higher rates of seatbelt non-compliance and mobile phone distractions among drivers using vans for work.
The open letter urges MEPs to extend the current requirements for bus and truck drivers, including the need for professional driver training (Certificates of Professional Competence – CPCs), to create a new category for van drivers. This would also encompass van drivers who may be misclassified as self-employed or owner drivers. This proposal could be implemented as part of the European Parliament’s plans to establish a B+ category with separate CPC-type training requirements for N1 vehicles used for professional purposes.
The organizations behind the open letter also express their disagreement with the European Commission’s proposal to increase the permissible mass of a 'B’ category vehicle from 3.5 to 4.25 tonnes. Citing a recent report from the VIAS Institute in Belgium, they argue that larger and more powerful vehicles are increasingly impacting road safety, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.