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Sparkling clean? A pride and joy? The envy of the office car park or neighbourhood? Well according to a report from a leading UK motor vehicle and van insurance company, the cleanliness of your vehicle largely depends on what it is that you drive.
The survey, which took into account the cleaning habits of more than 2000 drivers, revealed that it is van owners who are the most vehicle proud of all British drivers, spending more time cleaning their vehicles than any other type of motorist.
And what's more it's the white van drivers who are most committed to cleanliness, followed closely by silver van drivers, and red van drivers.
Despite a reputation for driving less than pristine vehicles the 'also available in white' van drivers of the UK seem to be confounding their reputation.
Spending an impressive 42 minutes cleaning their vehicles every week compared to relatively slovenly car drivers who lavish only half as much time, a shoddy 21 minutes each on keeping their vehicles, spick and span van drivers are even more conscientious than motorcyclists, who invest a full 10 minutes a week less on elbow grease.
So where is the attention focused? Where do van drivers direct their attention and affection? The report indicates that the majority of the cleaning takes place externally.
Over three quarters of the cleaning effort is directed at the exterior of the van (and the vast majority of that with the aid of a car was).
Less than 20% of cleaning time is spent on the inside, with cleaning the inside windows proving the least popular chore.
The motivation behind their endeavours? Well, contrary to some wild guess work by analysts and speculation amongst some professionals, having a clean van won't in its own right inspire your insurer to start issuing cheap van insurance or budget commercial van insurance for the sake of it.
It's not beyond the realms of imagination though that having a clean and well-maintained van might be related to better rates in a way and might in an indirect way bear a little influence on the matter.
Why? Well it's highly unlikely that the good house-keeping practices of a conscientious van owner stop the second he or she puts their sponge down to stand back and admire their cleaning abilities.
The professional pride and the desire to present a clean and impressive business image that is the main driving force behind keeping their vehicle clean and tidy is surely carried on through into other aspects of van ownership and use.
The way the engine and mechanics are maintained for example through regular servicing.
The way a van is driven - if someone care enough to present their vehicle well it's probable that they care enough to drive it well, or at least with a degree of consideration more than someone who isn't that bothered about what they are driving.
Parking the vehicle too.
A proud vehicle owner will instinctively take fewer risks both in driving and parking.
Less risks, less potential harms, less damage, less claims better insurance rates.
All theory of course but probably deserving of a closer look.
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