Ice cream van drivers slapped with seven-page rulebook on playing iconic tune

Ice cream van drivers are being forced to adhere to a seven-page rulebook when playing their iconic tune.

The tedious booklet includes a whopping number of rules and regulations that Mr Whippy has to follow.

The ‘Greensleeves’ chime has been a staple for British ice cream van drivers for decades.

But the government says that if the jingle goes on for a moment longer than 12 seconds, it runs the risk of annoying the public.

Each van has to be fitted with an automatic mechanism that stops the tune after the acceptable time period.

Drivers are only permitted to use the tune once when driving to their patch and once when the van is parked up, as reported by Need To Know.

Ice cream vans must follow a strict seven-page rulebook limiting how often and how long they can play chimes like ‘Greensleeves’ to avoid disturbing the public. — *An ice cream van. (Picture: Jam Press)*

The jingle cannot be played again without a two minute gap in between.

And depending on the street, drivers can be limited to just one play of the tune every two hours.

The tune is not to be played when passing by a rival seller.

Churchgoers must be avoided on Sundays and drivers are not allowed within 50 metres of a place of worship during a religious day.

Ice cream vans must also avoid nearing schools during teaching hours.

The ‘Code of Practice on Noise from Ice-Cream Van Chimes Etc. in England’ is enforced by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

Its document states: “This code of practice gives guidance on methods of minimising annoyance or disturbance caused by the operation of loudspeakers fixed to ice-cream vans.

“Used to convey and sell perishable commodities for human consumption to the public.

“Annoyance to persons in the vicinity is most likely to be caused if the volume of chimes is excessive.

“If the chimes are played too frequently or for too long, if the chimes are sounded in areas where people are particularly sensitive to noise, or if the sound of the chimes is distorted.

“The methods by which such annoyance may be minimised are described in the following sections of this code of practice.”