A new proposal by LeaseVan.co.uk aims to give van drivers access to bus lanes when responding to emergency call-outs. The campaign calls for allowing tradespeople to bypass traffic congestion by using bus lanes when driving to urgent jobs, such as boiler breakdowns.
Tim Alcock from LeaseVan said: “Allowing these van drivers to have priority on the roads, much like the police, fire or ambulance services do, will help many Brits who are stuck waiting for tradespeople to come and fix their property issues.
“The new proposals to allow tradies to use the bus lanes will help keep millions of people safe and warm, especially as we begin to get into the colder months.”
Priority Access for Emergency Call-Outs
With winter fast approaching, quick response times are of vital importance. Boiler breakdowns often leave homes without heat and hot water during the coldest times of year. Research shows that 52% of UK homeowners experienced a boiler failure at some point over a 12-month period.
Since most bus lanes are already open to taxis and motorcycles, it makes sense to allow qualified tradespeople similar access. Faster response times could prove critical for vulnerable homeowners facing the harshest consequences of winter weather in their own homes.
Other call-outs that could reasonably qualify for this special access include gas leaks, roof damage, blown fuse boxes, or any other serious plumbing issues that leave homeowners in danger or without essential services.
Congestion on the Rise
While traffic levels remain lower than they were pre-pandemic, congestion on the roads last year increased by 8%. Van traffic also rose nearly 6% during the same period.
More vehicles on the road increasingly slows tradespeople travelling to urgent jobs. This is especially true during traditional rush hour traffic jam times.
Tradespeople often get stuck in stand-still traffic alongside non-urgent vehicles just going about their day. This leads to frustrating delays before they can reach vulnerable customers in need of their services.
LeaseVan argue that allowing tradespeople to use bus lanes – the majority of which sit nearly empty outside of peak hours – could help them to bypass heavy traffic and provide faster service without leaving desperate homeowners waiting.
Tradesman Talk
How much time do you lose every day to congestion when travelling between jobs? Would you support an initiative allowing tradespeople access to bus lanes in emergencies?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this post using the social media buttons.
Until next time, make sure it’s Tradesman Saver.
