The number of accidents involving vans and other delivery vehicles has increased significantly in the past seven years, according to stats released by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Figures released show that during the seven previous years, there have been nearly 70,000 casualties involving vans, 700 of which were fatal. The digital mapping firm Mapmechanics analysed these figures from the DfT, which detail accidents reported in Britain between 2009 and 2015.
It has been discovered that the largest spikes in van accidents over the years has occurred in London and the south-east of England, where such incidents have increased by 20 per cent.
It has also been noted that motorcycles and mopeds used for work purposes have been increasingly more involved in accidents in the same seven-year period. Such vehicles were involved in 1,174 accidents nationwide in 2015, a 31 per cent increase on 2009.
Private minicabs were involved in 1,090 road accidents in 2015, a 34 per cent increase compared to 2009. London, Wales and the north-east are the areas that have seen the biggest increase in minicab accidents.
Is online shopping to blame?
The director at Mapmechanics, David Cockrell, pointed to the increasing use of online delivery services and taxi apps when commenting on these findings. He said: “The make-up of Britain’s roads appears to be changing, with the volume of vans, mopeds and private taxi cabs increasing to meet demand from the ‘now generation’ who are using the internet to order goods, takeaways and taxis.
“Little wonder accidents have increased involving these groups of vehicles”.
