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A cleaning van has been slammed for a decal design that looks identical to the chequered pattern on police vehicles, giving motorists ‘mini-heart attacks’.
An image of the Renault Trafic plastered with the distinctive blue and white police pattern running along the sides and back was posted to social media on Tuesday.
The van has startled drivers in Williamstown in Melbourne‘s bayside area as motorists mistake the commercial vehicle for a police car.
One motorist took to social media over the use of the familiar markings and said it ‘grabbed attention but not for the right reasons’.
An image of the Renault Trafic plastered with the distinctive blue and white police pattern running along the sides and back (pictured) was posted to social media on Tuesday
Social media commenters took issue with the use of the familiar markings (pictured)
‘Surely this can’t be legal, right? How is this tradie vehicle not imitating a police vehicle?’ their post’s caption read.
‘Should have been charged and changed a long time ago,’ the online user added.
‘I’ve passed [this vehicle] on the freeway a couple times and had a mini heart attack each time,’ one driver grumbled.
‘[This van] made me slow down to 60,’ a motorist said.
Other commenters thought it was a good way to keep road users in check.
‘If it makes even one muppet stop speeding and actually keep left unless overtaking, good,’ one said.
Williamstown police said the van’s design (pictured) was a ‘nice deterrent’ to drivers
Other motorists said the design was legit claiming authorities had no problem with the driver sporting the blue and white colours (pictured, a police vehicle in Victoria)
‘Great for exposure/advertising [but] also great for slowing other cars down,’ another commenter wrote.
The person who posted the photo later did an about turn realising the design was ‘legit’, after following up with authorities.
‘[Police] were aware of the vehicle and actually had to consult lawmakers to determine the legality of the decals,’ the driver wrote.
‘Officers at the station didn’t know how far the law actually went.
‘It is legal, but it was questionable enough that even members of VICPOL weren’t sure and needed to seek clarification.
‘But it’s legal, so fair play, carry on!’
‘It’s fine, police car checks are blue and white, this one’s white and blue,’ one online commenter joked (pictured, a police car in Melbourne)
Local authorities told Yahoo News Australia the van was ‘completely compliant’ and was not in breach of the Victorian Police Act.
Williamstown police said the van’s design was a ‘nice deterrent’ to drivers.
The van’s owner Jason Thurley runs his JT Services business with the vehicle in Melbourne’s Williamstown area.
He received a lot of calls since changing the design a year ago and chose the pattern because he wanted his company to stand out.
‘I thought to myself, ‘What sparks people’s attention?” Mr Thurley said.
‘So it really has paid for itself quite a few times over to tell you the truth.’
But Mr Thurley, who worked for Victoria Police between 2010 to 2014, didn’t expect the new look to cause drivers to slow down.
‘If I can kill two birds with one stone and get a bit of business out of it, and slow people down at the same time, well that’s even better.’
Meanwhile, online commenters continued to joke over the viral post.
‘It’s fine, police car checks are blue and white, this one’s white and blue,’ one said.
‘I wonder if his chequered past caught up with him?’ wrote another.
‘Both he and his former employer have a very chequered history,’ one more joked.
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