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"White van man" or "a-man-with-a-van" is a stereotype used in the United Kingdom for a Luton van and smaller-sized commercial van driver,[1] typically perceived as a selfish, inconsiderate driver who is mostly petit bourgeois and often aggressive.[2] According to this stereotype, the "white van man" is typically an independent tradesperson, such as a builder, plumber or locksmith, self-employed, or running a small enterprise,[2] for whom driving a commercial vehicle is not their main line of business, as it would be for a professional freight-driver.[3] The "white" refers to the archetypal and most common colour of the van, not the driver himself.
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The first recorded use in the British press was in an article titled "Number is up for White Van Man – scourge of the road." published by The Sunday Times on 18 May 1997 written by Jonathan Leake, that paper's then-transport editor. Later in 1997, it was used by BBC Radio 2's Sarah Kennedy. She was made honorary president of the First Ford Transit Owner's Club in 2005.[4]
The Sun newspaper ran a regular "White Van Man" column for some years[when?] in which the driver of a light goods vehicle was interviewed in his van on the issues of the day. These columns were accompanied by a picture of whichever driver had been interviewed leaning out of his cab.[citation needed]
The term was used in 2010 as part of road safety campaigns by the Freight Transport Association.[5]
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