The government is being urged to allow delivery drivers to use bus lanes and park on double lines while dropping off items during the pandemic. Van driving champions LeaseVan.co.uk say delivery drivers have been the lifeblood of the UK economy over the past year and should be granted special privileges when using Britain’s roads.

Now the LeaseVan team have penned an open letter to transport secretary Grant Shapps, calling for drivers delivering goods during the pandemic to have more priority on highways. The campaign calls for vans and cars that supply goods to people at home to have the same priority as buses and taxis, allowing them to meet delivery deadlines by avoiding traffic.

They also suggest that delivery drivers should be granted a badge which would allow them to park on double red or yellow lines for a short time while making deliveries. Identifying the work of drivers across several different industries, including food and pharmaceuticals, the campaign calls for more “respect” for those motorists, due to their tireless efforts throughout lockdowns.

“Delivery drivers have been out day and night for the best part of a year to ensure that people staying home and shielding still get the things they need. They have been the lifeblood of the British economy and the UK would have ground to a halt the best part of eleven months ago without the services they provide. They have been out delivering food shops, essential items, medication, and everything in between,” said a spokesperson for LeaseVan.co.uk.

“Now that the roads are starting to become much busier and people are expected to start getting out and about more, these essential professionals will be penalised by having to share roads with leisure drivers, commuters and parents on the school run. Buses and taxis have priority lanes, why not delivery drivers too? It makes common sense to utilise these lanes for drivers who are supplying goods and it will ease traffic congestion for other road users too.

“They should also be allowed to park on double red or yellow lines while dropping items off. It would only be for a few minutes, but it would make their lives so much easier. Let’s give our delivery drivers the respect they deserve by introducing measures which give them right of way, which take them out of the jams and lets them get on with the job. At this time of such uncertainty it would send a clear message that Britain is open for business and the drivers are fully supported.”