Vans can be used for thousands of miles for travel and work. With this in mind, it needs to be maintained and taken care of.

The van manufacturer Vauxhall, is offering a range of commercial vehicle accessories that can allow motorists to 'spruce up' their van this festive season.

They can prevent prying eyes from trying to take a peek at your possessions with security window film for the Vivaro for only £52.11 - or you can opt for a metal rear window grille, to keep out more determined opportunists, for just £123.

Also slushy winter roads can throw up stones and debris, but tailor-made clip-on headlight protectors for Corsavan, Astravan and Combo, will keep your lights free from chips and cracks for just £34.77, and a full set of mudflaps from just £65 can protect your bodywork too.Such fittings can be used to prevent theft, which can lead to lower van insurance premiums.

Additionally for people who plan to use a van to carry their Christmas tree home, fitting a cargo liner, starting at just £76.12, will make clearing out those needles much easier, and a load restraining floor net will keep your belongings in their place for as little as £24.34.

Whilst you probably won't be transporting hundreds of thousands of tonnes like Santa's sleigh, van load areas can get very crowded at Christmas, but you can spread the load with a full-length roof rack, available from just £205.36.

Van safety awards

In light of van safety a leading van insurance provider has received an award for its efforts with road safety.

The group has been awarded for its long-established commitment to helping businesses improve their road safety and won the Fleet Service Award, sponsored by Fleet Support Group, Britain's largest independent fleet management company, in the 2009 Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards.

Commenting on the company's continuing innovative approach to fleet underwriting and risk engineering through its global Transportation Centre of Expertise, Prince Michael, said: "The company works hand-in-hand with a string of high-profile clients including BT, Nestle, Wolseley, Johnson & Johnson as well as small and medium-sized fleets across the UK."

Mr Michael added: "Having first analysed a company's risk position, [it] has developed a wide range of tools as well as management initiatives for customers to implement to drive down their organisations' risk exposure."

There is no doubt that the firm's risk-led approach to fleet insurance is paying huge dividends for clients in delivering sustained improvements in at-work driving safety.

Insurer pleased with recognition

Andy Price, the practice leader of motor fleet, Risk Engineering UK at the group, said: "[We are] delighted that our philosophy towards work-related road risk management has been recognised by the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards judging panel."

He also said: "We believe that by taking a technically honest approach towards helping our customers identify, analyse and understand the risks that their drivers face, and by helping them select the appropriate management and/or individually-focused interventions, that this gives them the best chance of achieving a sustainable reduction in their collision rates, helping to reduce injuries and death on the road."

Mr Price concluded: "Our approach has led to many of our customers achieving significant, sustainable reductions in their claims frequencies which has helped enhance their safety performance - indeed some of them aware award winners themselves - and has also reduced the direct and uninsured losses associated with every collision.

"This award will further demonstrate to our customers the effectiveness of our approach towards motor fleet risk management."