You might think that a van is an easy thing to spot on the roads. As you drive along the motorway the white vans shoot past, not that that is the only colour available. However you might be surprised to find that they do need to have a significant amount of identification on them to avoid there being accidents. The danger is that if you hit a van you are going to come off worse. Modern vans are so solid and well made they are actually one of the safest vehicles on the road. Want to protect your family on the road? Put them in a van. Sadly they are not the most family friendly of transport, unless you kit it out with some comfy chairs and seat belts in the back.
To reduce the amount of accidents that occur vans usually feature some high vis chevron shapes at the back of the van. Chevrons are a series of V shapes either pointing up or down. You’ll have seen the chevron on the roadside. They are used to indicate when a corner is sharp and will require care. Chapter 8 can provide them for vans. They can be reached at https://www.pvluk.com/chapter-8-chevrons/.
The chevrons are also fluorescent so that they can easily be seen as soon as your headlights come into contact with them. This can allow other road users to pick up where the van is when at night times or in the middle of some bad weather
How contrasting chevrons catch the eye
A chevron is a simple V shape, and on vehicles it is made from two contrasting colours of reflective material. The brighter the colours and the stronger the contrast, the quicker other drivers notice the pattern, which is exactly what is needed when a van is stopped at the roadside.
The most common place for chevrons is the rear of the vehicle, on the tailgate or back doors. They are standard on emergency response vehicles and on vans and trucks that have to stop on the highway for repairs or construction work, where Chapter 8 regulations set out what is required.
Chevrons are not only for large trucks, though. They can be fitted to almost any type of vehicle, and the same reflective material can be used for lettering and designs, so a van can look smart and be safer at the same time.
