Why Food Delivery Vans Aren’t as Visible as They Should Be
If you’ve had a supermarket van pull up outside your house recently, you’ll know the look: a brightly branded Tesco, Sainsbury's or Morrisons van, usually with reflective VC104+ tape around the rear perimeter and sometimes a strip down the sides. It ticks the compliance box, but here’s the problem, it often isn’t enough.
The Rising Visibility Risk
Food delivery vans are everywhere now. With online grocery shopping continuing to grow, these vehicles are constantly on the road, in residential areas, on rural routes, and navigating busy motorways. That means higher exposure to accident risk, particularly in poor visibility.
Perimeter-only reflective tape may look compliant, but in real terms it leaves large areas of the vehicle unmarked. In rain, low light, or dark winter evenings, the van’s full outline isn’t easily visible. For vehicles making frequent stops, this lack of visibility creates a real hazard for other road users and for the drivers themselves.
Why VC104+ Tape Alone Falls Short
The law around conspicuity markings (ECE104) sets minimum standards, and supermarket fleets typically meet these with perimeter tape. But minimum compliance isn’t maximum safety.
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Rear hazard zones: The rear of food delivery vans is a high-risk area, loading doors, tail-lifts, and reversing movements, yet perimeter-only tape doesn’t highlight the central mass of the vehicle.
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Side visibility gaps: With just a single line down the side, the vehicle doesn’t stand out at an angle or when approaching from junctions.
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Brand vs safety: Supermarket branding often dominates the sides of these vans, but reflective safety markings get lost within the design.
Put simply, VC104+ tape is better than nothing, yes, but it doesn’t give the all-round conspicuity that keeps vehicles truly safe.
The Better Approach: Chevron Kits and High-Visibility Panels
For fleets like these, Chapter 8 rear chevron kits and reflective side markings provide far greater visibility than perimeter tape alone. Chevron kits highlight the full rear face of the vehicle, not just the outline. They make the van instantly recognisable as a hazard vehicle when stopped or reversing.
Side panels with reflective graphics also extend visibility, especially at junctions or on unlit rural roads. That’s why many utility fleets, highways vehicles, and construction vans already adopt these markings, because they work.
Why It Matters for Fleets Big and Small
Supermarket fleets may be the most visible example, but the same applies to any delivery or service fleet:
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Couriers and last-mile logistics (DPD, DHL, Amazon)
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Catering and hospitality vehicles
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Trade vans making house calls
All spend time parked at kerbsides, reversing into tight spaces, or stopping frequently. For them, better visibility isn’t just about compliance, it’s about safety, insurance, and reputation.
How Chapter 8 Shop Can Help
At Chapter 8 Shop, we supply pre-cut, easy-to-fit chevron kits and reflective markings designed to keep delivery fleets safe and visible. Our solutions are:
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Fully compliant with Chapter 8 and ECE104 standards
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Customisable to fit a wide range of vehicle models
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Durable and easy to apply - saving time and ensuring consistency
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Trusted nationwide by fleets across construction, highways, utilities, and logistics
For supermarkets and delivery fleets, upgrading from perimeter tape to full Chapter 8 conspicuity is a simple, cost-effective way to reduce risk and improve safety.
Final Thoughts
Food delivery vans may look compliant, but perimeter tape doesn’t provide full visibility. With Chapter 8 Shop’s reflective chevron kits and markings, fleets can go beyond the minimum, and protect their drivers, customers, and brand.