WHITE van man, a class of road user that includes some of the country’s most notorious tailgaters, is to be provided with free driving lessons by the Government.

Alistair Darling, the Transport Secretary, will today announce a £1 million-plus package to train advanced driving instructors who will offer the driving lessons to 3,500 light goods van drivers initially.

The courses are intended to improve the braking and gear-changing skills of the drivers, as well as their road awareness.

Mr Darling said he hoped the lessons would help to make Britain a greener place as well as saving the drivers money.

A study by the Social Issues Research Centre said van drivers were perceived as a “sub- human species of thuggish roadhog” with an enthusiasm for cutting up other motorists.

Mr Darling said: “The white van fleet is the driving force of the British economy. I want them to play their part in making Britain a greener place and at the same time make a tidy saving.” The Department of Transport said a pilot scheme with Royal Mail and Sainsbury’s staff showed that better driving can cut fuel consumption by 10 per cent.

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