Far from the archetypal lecherous, tattooed, road-hogs, Stuart Macdonald finds that white van men are actually eco-friendly, diet-conscious, spiritually fulfilled Casanovas

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When you think 鈥淲hite Van Man鈥� (WVM), do you think overweight + tattooed + skinhead + road-hog? Think again. WVM is sensitive, conscientious and is only trying to do his job. So give him a smile next time he cuts you up.

At least this is the argument proposed by a white van man blogger on who begins his myth-busting crusade with the following revelations: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a builder鈥檚 bum hanging out of the back of my trousers, I don鈥檛 drink much tea and I don鈥檛 have fry-ups. In fact, most of the time I have sandwiches or pasta.鈥� Impressive stuff. WVM adds that most of the time he is 鈥渟tressing out to get a job done鈥� so 鈥渁 smile鈥� would be very welcome.

However, the impression that they are heroes riding their modern-day white stallions is spoilt somewhat by the admission that 鈥渙kay, we do ogle women, but what else can you do? You get bored off your head driving around鈥�.

It seems that, for some people, it is impossible to deny the romance of the White Van. Trevor at claims that driving a white van for a day to move house gave him a 鈥渨onderful, invigorating feeling鈥�.

His passion for the white van is surpassed only by the mysterious MB at for whom a simple day in a rented van became a spiritual awakening. 鈥淎s I relax into the driving, I am overcome by an urge,鈥� he writes. 鈥淚t鈥檚 difficult to put into words. I felt a force surrounding me and taking over. I suddenly don鈥檛 feel like I have control over my actions. My life has been given to a higher power and I am helpless.鈥�

There could, of course, be an ulterior motive here 鈥� one best expressed by Gail on who comments on a recent poll that the humble white van is the second most popular car for 鈥渁 bit of nooky鈥�. However, before all you WVM start rejoicing, bear in mind that the car that beat you is the Volvo.

To weightier matters, and the Scotsman reports on a project by the Scottish executive to get WVM to be more green. Initial responses at are encouraging. Gordon, who drives a van for Sky TV, says: 鈥淢ost of the guys in my team are into green issues. I鈥檓 proud of my country and would bend over backwards to help.鈥�

However, the argument returns to familiar territory when Grumpy writes: 鈥淩ushing around at breakneck speed, harassing and intimidating other motorists, and stopping in the stupidest places is the only fun that a white van man gets in life.鈥� We have polls that suggest otherwise, Grumpy 鈥�