Driving test

Meads181
Meads181 Forum Participant Posts: 46
edited April 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

After watching that tv program should people have to take a seperate driving test to be able to tow a trailer/caravan.

Comments

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #2

    Your duplicate thread has been Deleted User.

    photo 78301b06-7bdd-45fe-8ae2-d4d2cae14135_zpssi5htrez.jpg

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #3

    I must be the only one who hasn't watched this programme, but which part of it makes you think a separate test is needed as the accident statistics involving towing are so very low and isn't there one already for drivers who passed their test after a certain
    date with car and/or towing weight?  (can't remember what it is now)

  • Dave
    Dave Forum Participant Posts: 141
    First Comment
    edited April 2016 #4

    After watching that tv program should people have to take a seperate driving test to be able to tow a trailer/caravan.

    You do. See the sticky in this section titled "Driving Licence Requirements" or click

    here
    .

    Dave

  • Meads181
    Meads181 Forum Participant Posts: 46
    edited April 2016 #5

    my point is people may have the appropriate catagories on their licence that allows them to leggally tow, but how many of them are competent at towing. only one of the contestsants on that tv show could actually reverse their  caravan.how many times hsve
    you been on a moroway and seen trailers being towed at 70mph..because they do not know the law.

  • Mitsi Fendt
    Mitsi Fendt Forum Participant Posts: 484
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    edited April 2016 #6

    my point is people may have the appropriate catagories on their licence that allows them to leggally tow, but how many of them are competent at towing. only one of the contestsants on that tv show could actually reverse their  caravan.how many times hsve
    you been on a moroway and seen trailers being towed at 70mph..because they do not know the law.

    You assume people tow at 70 because they don't know the law. Could they know the law and choose to ignore it?

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #7

    my point is people may have the appropriate catagories on their licence that allows them to leggally tow, but how many of them are competent at towing. only one of the contestsants on that tv show could actually reverse their  caravan.how many times hsve
    you been on a moroway and seen trailers being towed at 70mph..because they do not know the law.

    You assume people tow at 70 because they don't know the law. Could they know the law and choose to ignore it?

    fully agree, they exceed the speed limit even without a caravan on the back.

    I'm going to stick my neck out here but being able to reverse a caravan is not really that essentail to
    good towing nowdays, it makes good watching but with movers I think it's a thing of the past. Exceeding the speed limit endnagers everyone and is not good driving or towing, while reversing a caravan on site is hardly likely to cause a major accident,
    more likely to waer your clutch out. Did they have footpumps competitions on this show too, or fetching water without an aquaroll?

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited April 2016 #8

    ..and are you 100% confident in the accuracy of your speedometer plus how much faster than you was the other party actually going unless you follow and match their speed?

  • petertr
    petertr Forum Participant Posts: 199
    edited April 2016 #9

    As much as I'm happy that I didn't have to take a test, I started towing 2 days ago - and to be totally honest, I had no idea what the hell I was doing.

    My mirrors (suck and see) weren't "wide" enough, so I couldn't see.  I didn't have enought noseweight, so the hitch was banging all over the place, and as for reversing - pfff, I can't even start to say how bad I am at that.

    Yes, I'll learn - I'm sure of that & I'll get better and more confident quite quickly.  But perhaps a one day Compulsary Basic Training session would be in order here.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582
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    edited April 2016 #10

    Both clubs do towing courses and they are well regarded. 

    I never took any tuition but managed without problem but then again it was with a 10 ft caravan and my parents had a caravan. Possibly those starting should be advised to start with something modest rather than anything large but at the end of the day the towing is straightforward and provided you take care it is not that difficult.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #11

    Agree, Wildwood. Like you we started small and worked up. Also think one should never get complacent. Awareness of conditions around you is everyrhing. Take time and don't be intimidated by other road users

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited April 2016 #12

     ....... Exceeding the speed limit endnagers everyone and is not good driving or towing, while reversing a caravan on site is hardly likely to cause a major accident, more likely to waer your clutch out. ....

    Is doing 61mph while towing more or less dangerous than towing a badly loaded caravan at 59mph? Undecided

    and what's this clutch thing  ....... ? Cool