Arval Uitgelicht - spring 2019 - drivers

We are always looking for new ways to improve our service and need your help to achieve this. You experienced what it was like to order a new vehicle via Arval, have damage repaired, organize a temporary rental, or contact us in another way. You know better than anyone else whether we are providing you with good service.

All your ideas and comments are valuable
We want to hear whether you are happy with our service. But ‘happy’ isn't good enough for us – we strive for more. We want you to be really enthusiastic about us. So, if you have any comments or ideas about how we can improve, we are happy to hear them.

In some situations, we request that you fill in a survey
To make giving feedback as easy as possible, we have been sending out short digital surveys since 2016. These are sent to you automatically if you've had to deal with one of these situations:

• ordering
• delivery
• service
• damage
• vehicle trouble
• temporary rental
• vehicle return
• complaints.

Giving feedback takes just two minutes
We know that your time is valuable and have therefore created a survey for each specific situation. We also ensure that you receive no more than two surveys from us per year and that it takes no longer than two minutes to complete the survey. If one of your answers shows that you are unsatisfied, we will respond immediately. One of our staff from the relevant team will contact you as quickly as possible to resolve the issue.

Thanks for your help!
In 2018, we sent an astounding 36.422 surveys! We received a response to nearly 50% of these, which is an incredibly high percentage. Thank you for helping us to improve!

On 31 March, we went into summer time, and that means that spring is here. But putting the clock forward by an hour also carries some traffic risks. The chance of hitting wildlife increases around this time, while travelling in a heavily loaded vehicle when you go on holiday also comes with certain dangers.

Be aware of crossing wildlife
As soon as summer time comes into effect, the chances of hitting a deer, boar, or other wildlife increases. This is because the animals still need to adjust to the morning rush hour, which is suddenly an hour earlier.

This rush hour now takes place at the same time that the animals are returning to their resting areas, and they need to cross the road to get there. But after a few weeks, the animals have been able to adjust their rhythm to the new situation, reducing the chance of hitting crossing wildlife.

Ensure that your loaded vehicle is not a danger on the road
One of the advantages of taking your vehicle on holiday is that there are no luggage restrictions. However, you do need to ensure that you pack your vehicle well. For a better grip on the road, pack the heaviest objects at the bottom near to the wheels.

Do not place loose, heavy objects on top, as these can turn into dangerous projectiles that can injure you or your passengers if you need to brake suddenly.

It is also essential that you adjust your speed when travelling in a fully loaded vehicle. A heavily loaded vehicle is more likely to lose its grip on the road than an unloaded vehicle.

When last did you read a theory book about traffic rules? It’s likely that you have forgotten some of the rules or that some of what you know is no longer relevant, as a great deal has changed in recent years. For example, the maximum speed has not only been increased but can also be different over different sections of the road and at different times of day. There is also often no way back once you have left an exit or turbo roundabout.

Sometimes, you really have to look for the maximum speed
The speed limit on some motorways is 130 kilometres per hour. But the speed limit actually often depends on the time of day. If you see an additional sign stating ‘6-19h’, that means that you may only drive at the highest maximum speed at night. The speed limit for open rush-hour lanes is also often lower than indicated by the permanent signs. In all cases, you must adhere to the speed limit on the temporary signs and matrix signs.

The lines give additional information
The lines in the middle of the road tell you how fast you can drive. A double white line with a green line in the centre indicates that the speed limit is 100 kilometres per hour. If there is no green line between the white lines, the speed limit is 80 kilometres per hour. This also applies to roads without lines in the middle. However, information on traffic signs always overrules the road markings.

No way back on an exit
Another lesser known rule is that you are not permitted to return to the adjacent lane if you are driving on a deceleration lane. You are therefore not allowed to overtake part of a traffic jam by driving on the deceleration lane. If you do and are caught, you might just get a very big fine.

Select the correct lane before entering the turbo roundabout
A similar rule applies to the turbo roundabouts, which have replaced many of the large intersections in recent years. Once you have entered the roundabout, you are no longer permitted to change lanes that are separated by elevations. It is also not possible to make another lap of the roundabout if you have selected the wrong lane. So, it is important to know exactly which lane you need to take before entering the turbo roundabout.

Test your knowledge
If you'd like to find out just how much you know about modern traffic rules, then take this test on the traffic safety website ‘Veilig Verkeer Nederland’ (available in Dutch only).

Did you know that you reduce the chance of injury if you drive with your arms and legs slightly bent? Below is a five-step explanation to help you maintain the best possible driving posture.

Step 1: chair
Ensure that your upper legs are resting on the seat and that you can easily reach the foot pedals. If you have to place your whole foot on the pedal to press it down, you are sitting too far forward. But if your upper legs press down into the chair when using the pedals, then you are sitting too far back. Always ensure that your legs are slightly bent while driving.

Step 2: backrest
Adjust your backrest so that you can place both your wrists on top of the steering wheel with your shoulders still touching the backrest. It’s likely that you are now sitting closer to the steering wheel than what you are used to. However, this distance ensures that you are more firmly in contact, and thus in control, of the vehicle. You also reduce the chance of injury, as you are sitting behind the steering wheel with slightly bent arms.

Step 3: steering wheel
Press down the pedals as far as they can go and push yourself against the backrest of the chair. If your upper legs are not pushing down into the seat and your elbows are still slightly bent, you are sitting correctly. If this is not the case, pull the steering wheel towards you. Ensure that you can always clearly read the dashboard behind the steering wheel. When driving, always place your hands on the ‘quarter-to-three’ position. This posture prevents you from injuring your hands in an accident.

Step 4: headrest
Adjust your headrest so that the back of your head is completely supported. This reduces the chance of whiplash in the event of a collision.

Step 5: seatbelt
Ensure that the seatbelt crosses from your shoulder across your body in a straight line. You can adjust the height of the seatbelt above your left shoulder. Always ensure that the seatbelt is sitting nice and snug before driving away.

DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

Is it an offence to stand still at a green traffic light?

DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS

Red light: stop immediately. Yellow or orange: not an emergency.

VVN REFRESHER COURSE

Update your knowledge of the traffic rules and take a short test.