A quarter (23%) of Brits believe white vans are more iconic than the royal family in terms of Britishness, according to research by Direct Line.
Most Brits (56%) agree that white vans are an iconic symbol of Britain. A quarter (26%) of people say they are more British than builder’s tea or breakfast fry ups (24%). White vans are even seen as a more iconic sign of Britishness than Sunday roasts (24%), black cabs (20%), complaining about the weather (20%) and queuing (19%).
Nearly two-thirds (63%) of white van drivers feel that the stereotypes around them are outdated and inaccurate. Almost three-quarters (72%) claim that they are considerate drivers who respect the rules of the road.
White van drivers also buck ideas of them tucking into takeaways and having dirty vans. In total, 73% say that they try to lead a healthy lifestyle and 69% keep their vans clean and tidy.
Attitudes among the general public are changing, with those under the age of 45 more likely to view white van drivers as hard working rather than inconsiderate drivers. The latter view is more widely held by those over the age of 45.
Eva Sandstra- Bennett, van product manager at Direct Line business insurance, commented: “White vans and their drivers are a British icon and backbone of the nation, travelling an estimated 57 billion vehicle miles a year to repair our homes, fix utilities and deliver our orders.
“It’s refreshing to see that people appreciate the hard work of white vans and their drivers, and that old stereotypes are starting to wane.”
Recent research by Mercedes-Benz Vans found that delivery drivers are seen as more important than postmen.
Half of Brits (47%) say delivery drivers now play a more important role in their community than posties.
A similar figure (40%) said they feel as much warmth and affection towards delivery drivers as they do towards their postman, reflecting the boom in online shopping and home deliveries.
