Van Driver Safety Course
This fully online, CPD-accredited course is designed for anyone who drives a van for work. It helps ensure your drivers understand how to operate their vehicles safely and responsibly — a key legal requirement for employers.
Each year in the UK, around 147 lives are lost due to tailgating — a preventable and dangerous driving habit. This type of behaviour has no place in your business. In fact, Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) were involved in 2,835 fatal or serious collisions in 2021 — a 12% increase compared to 2012, according to Brake.
To reduce risk and improve safety, it’s essential that all van drivers are familiar with key best practices and regulations. These include:
- Understanding van-specific speed limits
- Managing fatigue and supporting mental wellbeing
- Practising safe driving techniques
- Knowing where to park legally and safely
- Identifying vehicle defects before they become hazards
Providing your team with the Echo3 Van Driver Safety Course supports safer driving and delivers real business benefits:
- Reduced accident rates and vehicle downtime
- Improved compliance with health & safety obligations
- Enhanced company reputation and professionalism
The course features engaging video content and is accessible 100% online. Upon successful completion, each participant receives an Echo3 Van Safety certificate — ideal for keeping your training records up to date.
Van Safety Course Content
UNIT 1 – The Law
In the first learning unit we cover your legal responsibilities. To yourself, employer, and the public.
UNIT 2 – Vehicle Pre-Use Checks
In this second learning unit, we will demonstrate how to correctly carry out ‘pre-use checks’, discuss which parts of the vehicle need to be checked and explain what you need to look out for when checking.
UNIT 3 – Driving Best-Practice Behaviours
In this third unit we detail how to be an excellent driver. This means driving in a way that anticipates hazards, so the driver has plenty of time to react to any dangers. It also means understanding the latest rules. For example, leave at least 5ft or 1.5metres of space when passing cyclists.
UNIT 4 – Delivery Best-Practice Behaviours
In this fourth unit we cover how to deliver goods professional. This means unloading in the right places. Demonstrating good customer service and care for the employer’s reputation. For example you will learn the difference between Red Routes and Clearways.
UNIT 5 – Assessment
Van Driver Safety Course Certificate
Download and Print Your Certificate
- Written in compliance with UK Regulations
- Developed by qualified health and safety professionals
- Accredited by CPD – learn more about CPD here
- Last Updated December 2024
- To gain the certificate you must complete the assessment which involves 20 questions.
- The online Van Safety certificate is valid for 3 years.
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What are the van safety course learning objectives?
Upon completion of the Van Safety course learners will;
1. Understand Legal Requirements. Drivers will know their responsibilities in respect to driving regulations. This includes van maintenance, pre-use checks, speed limits, secure loading, van overloading, road signs and parking.
2. Develop Hazard Awareness. Drivers will understand the ways roads become more dangerous and know how to react according. For example, tailgating, speeding and poor weather conditions.
3. Know Van Maintenance Requirements. Learners will understand the importance of conducting regular van safety inspections.
4. Overloading Rules. Learners will know how to check the weight limits of their vehicle. And the potential consequences of overloading their vehicle.
5. Driver Health and Well-being. Participants gain an awareness of best-practices with regards to lifting parcels, reducing fatigue and reducing stress while driving. We also cover positive ways to improve general well-being. This way van drivers can remain in a safe state for driving both physically and mentally.
6. Economical Driving. Learner will understand how to drive in a fuel efficient way to reduce fuel consumption and save money.
Who is van safety training for?
All those driving vans for work will benefit from the knowledge provided by the Echo3 Van Safety course.
This includes both delivery drivers and tradesman.
What are the benefits of van driver training?
- Helps to meet duty of care responsibilities.
- Reduced incidents
- Less downtime
- Reduced fuel usage
- Increased productivity
- Improved van resale value
- Reduced running and maintenance costs
- Positive environmental impact
- Improved reputation of your brand
How to drive economically?
You can drive a van economically by adopting these 6 tips.
- Correctly inflated tyres offer less resistance on the road, increasing fuel economy and improving handling.
- Don’t drive too fast. Fuel costs increase the faster you drive, so keep speeds reasonable.
- Smooth braking will save fuel & reduce stress on you, the vehicle & your load.
- Using the engine to brake provides a smooth reduction in speed, and saves fuel.
- Use the handbrake for hill starts
- Don’t idle your engine is stopped for more than 1 minute.
Why is tailgating dangerous?
2019 VW research showed 10 people are injured everyday in the UK due to van drivers tailgating. A behaviour that is entirely avoidable.
Your drivers simply need to observe the 2 second rule. Simply keeping at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle ahead. This gives them vital time to respond should the vehicle ahead manoeuvre in a sudden and unexpected way.
This lesson is covered in the Van Safety course and covered in more even detail in our Defensive Driving course.
What are Echo3 related courses?
Other Echo3 courses you may wish to consider for your van driving staff include;
Vehicle Banksman – This course provides the knowledge need to manage vehicle flows safely around a worksite.
Defensive Driving – This course provides an understand of the defensive driving mindset. Where dangers are anticipated instead of simple reacted to.
Safer Driving in Winter – This course provides the knowledge needed to driving safely in winter. For example, how to drive on slippery surfaces and low light conditions.
Manual Handling – This course provides and understand of how to lift goods safely reducing the change of common injuries known as MSDs.
Transporting Dangerous Goods – This course provides the knowledge to transport dangerous goods safely. Dangerous Goods is anything with potential to cause harm. This includes everyday items like cleaning products and batteries.
You can easily assign multiple courses to staff by ordering Echo3 Training Credit.
