Van Rental Now

A major city like London can be intimidating to drive through even when the weather’s good, so we thought we’d gather some tips together for you to help you prepare for the cold weather. This isn’t usually the first topic you’d consider when it comes to van rental, but if you get stuck in bad weather it soon jumps to the top of the list!

Now the conscientious among us would suggest that the best advice for driving in bad weather conditions is to stay indoors and forget it. However, we all know that the pace of life in London is fast, and when you’ve got to get something done it usually needs to get done sharpish. It’s still good advice though and if you can rearrange you van rental plans then it can be a safe option to take. However, we’re assuming you’ve got to get on with it and hire that van and get on with your business around town.

At this time of year, London can be a very wet and snowy place to drive around and if you’ve rented a van you need to be extra careful. The first thing to do when you pick up the van is (whilst your checking the vehicle) make sure that the tires have got good tread on them. You don’t want to be driving in very wet conditions with old tires as you are more likely to lose control and skid. This is an unpleasant experience in a car, but in a large van carrying a heavy load it can be even more dangerous.

Once you’re on the road, don’t rush. Particularly in London, pretty much any driver will jump down your throat if you are in their way, but prepare yourself. Go at you own pace, and concentrate on the vehicle and the road. You may experience all sorts of unpleasant  conditions, so you should be totally at home with the van and feel comfortable driving it. It’s often a good idea to familiarize yourself with the van in the parking lot, or drive around some quiet back streets until you feel comfortable. After that always keep in mind that you not in a car, so high winds for example are more likely to affect you and you will not be sure how the vehicle reacts to excess water on the road. The safest thing to do is slow down and go at a speed that is comfortable for you (even if London’s traffic is piling up behind you).

Often extreme weather conditions with heavy downpours or fog can impair visibility. It’s a good idea (after slowing down) to put on your lights so that other drivers can see you more clearly. If you are traveling at speed then make sure you keep an adequate distance between you and the person in front of you. You don’t need to be so close you can read all of their funny stickers on the back of the car. In snowy weather you’ll be more likely to lose control of your van, but fortunately London has a good response to gritting roads when snow comes, so you’ll most likely find that the roads are clear. If they are not, then be aware of other vehicles and especially slow down for the gritting lorries as they are concentrating on their job of gritting. It’s not a good idea to try and overtake them as they will have even less visibility than you do probably, so try not to be to hasty. A good way to allow for this is to set off a bit earlier.

When it comes to the van itself, it’s a good idea to ease up a little on the controls, for example don’t break too fast, or turn too sharply at speed. In extreme weather you need to be more tentative than usual. Also watch out when crossing bridges for those gusts of wind.

There you go, a few useful thoughts on road safety when considering your van rental in London. Of course don’t forget to quiz the van rental guys about the van you’re getting, they will most likely know any quirks that you need to be aware of. So good luck and drive safe.