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'White van man' stereotype isn't dead as three-quarters of van drivers report negative attitudes from other motorists

Craig Cheetham
Wed, 17 Sept 2025

More than three-quarters (78%) of van drivers have said they experience negative behaviour from other road users simply because they drive a van.

A study of 1000 van drivers by Peugeot showed that more than half – 53% – of drivers who use a van have been cut up on the road, with other common forms of abuse including being verbally sworn at (51%) and tailgating (41%). Over a quarter (26%) reported that they have been threatened with physical violence.

Outdated attitudes to van drivers are said to be the cause, with the majority (79%) of those surveyed saying such behaviour is down to to outdated ‘white van man’ stereotypes and how they are perceived by other motorists, with 73% saying they feel misunderstood by the general public, though this rises to 78% among electric van drivers.

According to the survey, the most common stereotypes faced by van drivers are aggressive behaviour (46%), poor driving (43%) and having dirty or untidy vehicles (35%).

Ask HJ

What Luton box van do you recommend for me?

I want to create a mobile art therapy studio in the back of a box van to make it easier to get to my clients with all my equipment and have an uninterrupted space to work. My criteria are: 1. maximum space in the back to create an office type room including insulation, a window, and a sink. 2. best fuel economy (I will travel to 2-3 locations daily within a 5 - 25 mile radius). Reliable for many years.
Possibly the biggest challenge here will be understanding the weight of all your equipment, as converting a Luton van might not be the best approach. We'd advise buying a used camper van instead, as this will already have a sink and electric wiring and will probably save money in the long run. A Fiat Ducato or a Peugeot Boxer-based camper is probably your best bet.
Answered by Craig Cheetham
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