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A van driver has been handed a £200 fine for not displaying a ‘No Smoking' sticker on his new vehicle.

Freddie Beasley from Cleankill Environmental Services had just picked up the brand new van from a garage when he was pulled over in a joint police and council operation to clamp down on dangerous vehicles, according to the Daily Mail.

However, council officers spotted the vehicle wasn’t displaying a 'no smoking' sticker on his new van and he was given an on-the-spot fine of £200.

Beasley tried to explain that he had only just picked the new van up from a workshop where workers had painted the Cleankill logo on the side and that he was driving it back to the firm's HQ in Surrey.

The law states that any 'company vehicle' must have a no smoking sign - meaning that if he had been in the van with no logo he wouldn't have been fined as it would have been considered a 'personal van'.

Paul Bates from Cleankill Environmental Services said: “Let this be a warning to anybody that drives a company van.

“The irony is that if our technician had been smoking he would have been fined four time less, just £50.”

White is still the most popular van colour!

According to Direct Line white is still the most popular colour choice for van drivers in the UK accounting for 1852577 or 57% of vehicles registered on Britain's roads

Blue was the 2nd most favourite colour but this is losing ground with Metallic colours such as Silver and Aluminium becoming more popular with 10% now choosing these colours.

Another interesting point raised by the survey is that light goods vehicle registrations have increased by more than 28% in the last 10 years.

UK Vans Direct are proud to announce prices for the new Transit Custom which represents a completely new generation of Ford one-tonne vehicles, the Transit Custom marks a major step in Ford’s commitment to refresh its entire commercial vehicle line-up by 2014. With its bold new design, car-like interior and outstanding driving dynamics, the Ford Transit Custom is targeting an expanded share of the segment, appealing to a broad range of professionals, skilled tradesmen and small businesses alike.

Click here to see our amazing prices for the Transit Custom Range

B&Q in partnership with DHL became The South Yorkshire ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Schemes 50th member.

Launched in South Yorkshire in 2009 by "Care4Air" to help improve the air quality by encouraging fleet companies to improve their efficiency by reducing emmissions and lower fuel consumption.

Since then, almost 6,000 vehicles have been signed up to the scheme which offers recognition and provides practical tailored guidance on environmental best practice with each member receiving a star rating for their fleet.

DHL manages the fleet operations of B&Q’s 750,000 sq ft Redhouse Distribution centre in Doncaster and 840,000 sq ft distribution centre in Worksop.

The 62 vehicles based at the centres serve B&Q stores across South Yorkshire, the North East and East of England.

B&Q in partnership with DHL were awarded the highest five-star rating by the ECO Stars scheme reflecting the high standards they have achieved, particularly an impressive fuel management programme.

Annual driver assessments are supplemented with constant monitoring using in-cab telematics, which is reviewed on a weekly basis to make constant improvements. They have also invested in routing and scheduling software to minimise vehicle mileage.

Nigel Willott, national transport manager for DHL, says they are delighted to join the scheme. He added: “ECO Stars is a perfect fit with both DHL’s and B&Q’s environmental philosophies and business values of improving efficiency and reducing costs.”

Michelle Thomas of B&Q said: “We are pleased to become the 50th membership of ECO stars in South Yorkshire, and very proud to have been awarded the highest possible rating from the outset.

“With a fleet travelling in excess of 5 million miles per year, every step we can take to reduce our fuel consumption and emissions benefits the local community.”

The occasion was marked with the presentation of a special award to B&Q in partnership with DHL by Ann Beddoes, Eco Stars scheme manager.

She said: “This represents a real milestone for ECO Stars in South Yorkshire, and with the expansion of the scheme across the UK and Europe, the scheme is really going from strength to strength”.

Nissan will be showcasing two new vehicles at the 13th annual Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC Birmingham.

The eNV200, Nissan’s first 100% electric van will make its UK debut at the show.

Also making its debut on the Nissan stand will be the NV200 taxi, Nissan’s vision for the future of the London ‘black cab’. The NV200 taxi is based on the company's multi-purpose NV200 compact van and redesigned to fully comply with the host of TfL Taxi Conditions of Fitness.

As well as seating to accommodate five passengers, the NV200 Taxi has also been modified to accommodate a wheel chair passenger and achieve a 25ft (7.6m) turning-circle – a legal requirement for all Hackney Carriages.

The Nissan stand is in Hall 3a (stand number 3A80) and will also feature a Cabstar, NV200, NV200 Fridge, NV400 panel van and a Red Bull Formula 1 car.

Jon Pollock, Nissan GB corporate sales director said: “We’re looking forward to showing the eNV200 to the public and offering a glimpse into the future of vans and their potential low running costs. Fleets that have recently tested the eNV200 have given us excellent feedback and we’re now excited to see the response from the public.

“Since we will not only be featuring the eNV200 and NV200 London Taxi in the UK for the first time but also showcasing one of the widest ranges of available commercial vehicles of any manufacturer present, we’re confident Nissan will have one of the most exciting stands at the show.”

See our latest prices on the Nissan range here!

Nissan will be showcasing two new vehicles at the 13th annual Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC Birmingham on April 9-11.

The E-NV200, Nissan’s first 100% electric van will make its UK debut at the show.

Nissan says it has already won praise with fleet operators during trials, for zero CO2 at the point of use, driving comfort and generous carrying capacity and payload.

Also making its debut on the Nissan stand will be the NV200 taxi, Nissan’s vision for the future of the London ‘black cab’. The NV200 taxi is based on the company's multi-purpose NV200 compact van and redesigned to fully comply with the host of TFL Taxi Conditions of Fitness.

As well as seating to comfortably accommodate five passengers, the NV200 Taxi has also been modified to accommodate a wheel chair passenger and achieve a 25ft (7.6m) turning-circle – a legal requirement for all Hackney Carriages.

Other vehicles on display will include the Navara Visia, which has been developed to offer operators a practical, robust and capable pick-up at a more affordable price.

The Nissan stand is in Hall 3a (stand number 3A80) and will also feature a Cabstar, NV200, NV200 Fridge, NV400 panel van and a Red Bull Formula 1 car.

Jon Pollock, Nissan corporate sales director said: "We’re looking forward to showing the eNV200 to the public and offering a glimpse into the future of vans and their potential low running costs. Fleets that have recently tested the eNV200 have given us excellent feedback and we’re now excited to see the response from the public.

"Since we will not only be featuring the eNV200 and NV200 London Taxi in the UK for the first time but also showcasing one of the widest ranges of available commercial vehicles of any manufacturer present, we’re confident Nissan will have one of the most exciting stands at the show."

See our latest prices on the Nissan range here!