1. Remember to watch out for the roof of your van! For although a positive aspect of vans is that they give you a clearer view of the road ahead, drivers who normally travel in cars can easily forget that vans are significantly taller than cars and therefore more likely to bash their roof on objects.

2. Areas where drivers should be particularly aware of this include;

• Bridges and overpasses
• Drive through canopies
• Low hanging tree limbs and power/telephone lines
• Garages may not be high enough to accommodate your van

3. Make a wider swing in a van than in a car as vans have a wider turning radius than cars due to the fact that they are longer. Be especially careful when at junctions or making turns to look out for motorcyclists or pedestrians who might get hit by your tail.

4. Try and take turns more slowly as vans can tip more easily than cars as they have a higher centre of gravity.

5. Watch your speed and never follow other vehicles too closely as vans are heavier than cars and need a longer braking distance. There should always be at least a four second gap between you and the vehicle in front. If you are carrying a heavy load or the weather conditions are poor this distance should be increased.

6. Vans have blind spots on each side. Adjust your mirrors to reduce these as much as possible. The greatest blind spot is to the rear when reversing.

7. Make good use of your mirrors and use a spotter when behind you when reversing.

8. Only reverse when it's necessary. Try to reverse park into a space so that you can drive straight out and therefore minimise the likelihood of hitting anyone or thing.

9. When unloading remember to lock up the van when it's unattended.

10. Remain continuously alert for accident producing situations so that they can be avoided.