B+e test- a blog!
Right, as there are going to be more and more people, especially newcomers to caravanning, who are going to need to complete the towing test and there seems to be a lack of first hand experience recorded anywhere I thought I would blog my experiences with taking some lessons and taking the test. I promise to be honest, if I fail my first test I shall tell you! I also promise to be as constructive about my opinions of the whole process as possible. This process will be more and more a part of caravanning life and I fully support it tbh. I feel a bit cross that many people my age have been awarded lots of categories on their license without any additional training while i am only just legal to drive a car and have to prove my worth with a caravan to be legal however looking at it sensibly I fully support the idea that every one towing a 'van should have to take a test to do so.
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On the 16th I completed a two hour assessment lesson with a local instructor who advertises that he specialises in towing lessons. It was a definate drain to complete, it was surprising how much stress having an instructor in the car causes, despite 12 years of driving! My previous driving experience includes 12 years road experience, 10 hours completed on track under one to one instruction, a session on a skid map, the driver improvement course following a fairly upsetting crash which resulted in a write off situation for my car and the IAM advanced driver course.
During the first half hour of the lesson I drive the instructors car with a horse box sized and shaped trailer for half an hour while the instructor scored me using the test marking standards. I scored 6 minor faults, which according to the instructor was, and I quote, an excellent drive! Win! Apparentlymet ost people get 20-30 minor faults using this system on the first drive, I got 6! ! ! Brilliant! I got a minor fault for speeding which was stupid of me, another for not changing gear on the motorway when I was in 4 th and the car was at 3000 revs but I was concentrating on a police car that was cutting me up trying to get in front of a lorry to pull it over, my positioning with a trailer on a round about wasn't brilliant and I forgot to indicate once. IMHO none of this is a problem and all can be corrected with a little concentration and thought on my part.
My biggest problem is the fact that I have never reversed with a caravan. Well during the assessment lesson I managed to reverse backwards in a straight line and could almost complete the s manoeuvre that the test requires - so watch this space! I definately need more practice! Lots of!
The instructor complemented me on my motor way driving and how I read road markings.
The instructor recommended that I take approx 9 hours lessons and then do my test. Test should be booked at the beginning of August so I shall be all legal to share the driving wen we take our van to Edinburgh on the august bank hol.
Wish me luck and I shall continue to share my experiences for the future caravan drivers!
Ps I am not glyn, I am glyns wife Clare using his log in, must sort that out! X
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And ps I would love an edit facility! How many typo's? X
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