B+E test could be scrapped
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I think a sensible compromise would be to raise the current limit to 4250 kgs for all combinations. The rules are so confusing for some people where you can legally tow upto 4250 kgs with a trailer of less than 750 kgs but can't go above 3500 kgs if your trailer is heavier. The current rules as they are at the moment encourages the use of lighter tow cars which certainly doesn't promote safety. I did some training with an instructor before I started out and found it to be really useful so would encourage it for others.
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I was considering doing the b+e at the time but was put off by the £700 price, especially given that my combination is legal on B license. So what I did was to have a half day with an instructor learning things like the correct hitching procedure, the importance of correct loading and noseweights, trailer safety checks, practice reversing. Some would say that was probably a waste of time or money but I think it was useful practice for a newbie at the time.
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+1 for the hitch up and go... all the way to the South of France! I do think there is an element of confidence associated to towing also at play here.
Not sure if I fit into the 'seasoned caravan' bracket yet - but having towed for last 8 years I'm a reasonably confident (but not cocky) tower (caravans and boats). As I passed my test post 97 I'm limited to the 3500kg limit. My current outfit is within all legal requirements, however, what gripes me is that if I wanted to (to my mind at least) make my outfit even 'safer' like changing my towcar to a slightly heavier, modest 4x4 - I now have to take a further test - to tow the very same caravan that I have been towing perfectly well for the last 8 years! Point blank I have refused to do the test thus far as I'm simply not paying to tow the very same caravan that I am already towing.
And what's worse - if I were to take the B+E test and fail.... It's all OK, as I'm still able to tow my caravan..
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If you were to take the test and fail you'd be in exactly the same position as you are now - limited to 3500kg.
Personally, I think it's not sensible to restrict yourself and, in your shoes, I'd take it. Why cut your nose off to spite your face?
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... If you were to take the test and fail you'd be in exactly the same position as you are now - limited to 3500kg.
Isn't that what MHG said? 🙄
Personally, I think it's not sensible to restrict yourself and, in your shoes, I'd take it. Why cut your nose off to spite your face?
Cos MHG might want to spend the £400/£500 (just a guess) on other things
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The first point is debatable. I took it as it's OK he can still tow without taking the test. Otherwise, why say "and what's worse…"?
The second point is simply your own wild speculation.
Anything else you want to quibble about?😬
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Yes I've got much better things to spend that sort of money on.. that's several good holidays on CAMC sites for starters!
I guess my gripe is just aimed at the current towing laws full stop! Sorry for the rant, but I'm from the younger generation and admit to having a real bee in my bonnet at not having the same towing entitlements, when I'm at no more or a less a risk really than someone who took their driving test a year before me.
As i have said before, I can tow my current outfit with or without the test, Its just a shame that if I wanted to (in my mind) make it an even 'safer' outfit by say purchasing a slightly heavier car, then I have to pay to take a test - for doing exactly the same thing as I'm currently already doing!
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I’m afraid that's life. Driving licence regs have changed many times over the years. Some of us are lucky enough to have 'grandfather's rights' to certain things but not to others. You're of the generation caught in the B+E change whilst some of us older ones found ourselves needing HGV tests.
While I completely understand your logic, I think I'd still take the test to give myself freedom of choice unless the scrapping of it becomes a certainty.
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"I'm sure I could find something else that you could argue with me"
You got that the wrong way around.🙄
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Et tu, Brute.
QED! 🤣🤣
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I am not convinced that the BE requirement is actually effective in improving road safety at all. For many years, the standard licence included BE entitlement. Was there statistical evidence to show accidents were happening because of untrained car+trailer drivers? I doubt it! I think it was simply over-regulation by government (UK and/or EU).
Do all trailer towers actually have a BE licence? No! I have twice come across those who claim ignorance of such a law.
If the test requirement was dropped, and BE appeared on the standard licence, would there be carnage on our roads because of it? I doubt it!
No doubt there would be an outcry from those who did the test under the old law? For sure!
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I don’t have B+E and our outfit comes in over 3500 kg so at the moment I’m the navigator never the driver. Needless to say as soon as it’s scrapped I will be towing ASAP. In the mean time I’ll be practicing driving our tow vehicle and studying my partners towing.
Some questions that came up in the thread.
Why was the B+E test introduced? For the same reason the drivers theory test was. When towers were questioned or out fits were checked many were unsafe. According to one article one out of 6 caravans stoped for random tests is found to be unsafe usually the distribution of load is unsafe. Obviously a 3500kg limit does little to help this. Personally I think a cheap theory test to check people know about nose weights etc would have been more effective than the B + E test.Why were tests not made necessary for everyone? Because under our law if you’re given a right such as the right to toe you keep it. There are very few folk still on the road who’ve never sat a test but if you started driving before the driving test was introduced you were given a license without ever sitting a test. This is why I will tow as soon as I can because as I understand it if I use that right I will retain it even if the test is reintroduced.
Why haven’t I taken the test? It’s not just the expense it’s availability. There is no private ground I can practice on so I’d need to pay for a course and test. This would probably cost me a lot more than £700 and such courses aren’t readily available so finding a provider and the time and money proved impossible. As others have said there’s no guarantee I’d pass (I get terrible test nerves it’s difficult to pass a hands on test when your hands are shaking). We did consider having a lighter tow car but decided it was safer to have a better car and one driver than split the driving with a lighter car.
I’m hoping that they will introduce a test again but that it will be a theory test to check that towers understand how to measure nose weight, load their trailer etc as I believe that would improve road safety. I’d also like to see tests on this web site so that members can test their knowledge and make sure they know how to be safe. I believe scrapping the current test could actually make things safer as a lot of towers are using light tow vehicles in order to be legal.
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"This is why I will tow as soon as I can because as I understand it if I use that right I will retain it even if the test is reintroduced. "
Usually once a right has been gained, that right is retained even if the law is changed. Which is why all of those who took their driving test pre-1997 retain their towing and weight limit rights - whether or not they have actually used them.
Any new law with regards to towing testing, will only affect those new licences after the law is introduced - so no need to rush out and tow your caravan.
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Also its like when the license was introduced in card format a lot of people including a police officer realised their motorcycle entitlement was missing and had to retake the test....
so check that the entitlement is there before you drive.
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This is the draft statutory instrument published last week - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2021/9780348227581
Looks like the date of the change is going to be 15th November.
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The category will be added to the electronic licence record for all licence holders automatically.
No need to send in your licence, it will be updated on the photocard once you renew:
What will change later in 2021
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, you’ll be allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM when the law changes.DVLA will update your driving licence record to show that you’re allowed to tow trailers. You’ll get category BE added to your driving licence when you get a new photocard driving licence.
You do not need to contact DVLA for this to happen. It will be done automatically.
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