DVSA roadside caravan safety checks this weekend
Hi everyone,
There's an interesting article on This is Money which says The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will target motorists towing caravans and trailers with on-the-spot safety checks over the upcoming bank holiday weekend amid fears the boom in staycationing could result in a spike in inexperienced users and dangerous vehicles on the road.
More information can be found here: This is Money DVSA Article
Comments
-
Wonder which roads they'll select for the checks? Those heading to the coast from large urban areas I suspect.
0 -
HI All
It is actually a continuation of a campaign that started in October 2019.
This was to check a number of caravan trailers, etc all under 3500kg, to help decide if there is a need for an annual test, MOT.
So it now seems to be turned into a major campaign by some jobs worth, But the letter to a MP states the purpose behind this.
Hope this helps more to understand it better.
Thanks
Ray
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAFE Towing Campaign and update to the All-Party Parliamentary Group
(APPG) on Trailer Towing and Safety
I am writing to update you about the upcoming communications campaign
which the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will be undertaking
from 21 May, ahead of National Camping and Caravanning Week.This is a timely opportunity to deliver towing safety messages to drivers who are new
to towing (for example, new caravan owners), and those who have towed
before but have not done so for a long time, due to recent restrictions.
The key message will be: ‘Whatever you’re towing, make it SAFE’. It will
recommend that motorists carry out some specific, fundamental checks
before they start towing, and to visit a professional garage if required.The DVSA hopes to work with members of the APPG to amplify the campaign and
has developed a toolkit to support this partnership. The DVSA also
understands that the APPG is keen to consider the commercial audience for
towing. It is planning to work on a business towing angle with Highways
England through their Driving for Better Business campaign.
I would also like to take this opportunity to update you on further activity
planned for the coming months with regard to checking non-testable trailers
and caravans.As restrictions begin to ease, the DVSA will continue to
undertake checks at the roadside. A further 550 caravans will need to be
checked to reach the planned target of 700 in total by September 2021.
These checks will need to be done at locations across the country, and over a
reasonable period of time, in order to get a representative sample of caravan
traffic.Operation Vertebrae is a week-long operation along the length of the
M6 motorway starting on 24 May, in conjunction with Highways England and
the police. The DVSA will have teams out at a number of motorways services
along this route to carry out further checks.By September 2021, we will be better placed to understand the overall condition of light trailers and caravans on our roads.
0 -
They often set up a check point on the M5 just south of Bristol - that'll add to the congestion - and there’s a permanent check site just off jcn 27 Tiverton.
0 -
Well done that "jobsworth" for attempting to save a few lives by instigating safety checks.
6 -
Hi
It is not only caravans it is all Trailers that can be towed, and that are under 3500kg. And not within any current annual test.
The main aim of this was to look at the state of these trailers to see if there is a case for them to have some sort of annual test going forward.
As my work involves me being on the DVSA mailing list, i am very well aware of the actions, and campaigns, they undertake, and this one stems from the Oct 2019 to Sept 2020 that never concluded.
The findings up to now on trailers, Private Vs Company show a need to possible bring in some form of annual Test.
If you go onto the below web site, there is some charts etc that you can see on the results of the campaign so far.
Interesting reading and hopefully will make our roads safer.
http://www.trailerappg.org.uk/
As for jobs worth, yea it will be taken over by one, always does.
0 -
Ray
The Government had the option to introduce registration and MOT's for trailers such as caravans some time ago when the EU were considering the matter. This was rejected by the UK Government as being too expensive. I can't see that anything has changed.
The random checking of caravan (and motorhomes) to establish their road worthiness is surely no bad idea?
David
0 -
That's as I remember it, too, but I was doubting myself.
As I recall, this club and C&CC were involved in liaising with the Govt.
0 -
had a quick read through some of the link .... all a bit simple & condescending IMHO
Even mentions a 'towing test' .... there isn't a towing test! Just restrictions on what you can tow if you've only been towing for 20 odd years.
And do trailers actually become detached? Or are run away trailers just those that were never attached properly in the first place?
0 -
Hi
I was just giving some back ground around this latest campaign. Which runs from now to the end of sept 2021.
I have never ever stated it was a bad idea!!!!! I stated it was a jobs worth pushing for a BH clamp down when the roads are rammed enough, just coming out of a lock down, and i still state that, and that's my opinion.
#Optramline, #towsafeforfreddie, and other campaigns like them, cover this issue all year round and are always welcomed. Especially when you see the state of some of the trailers that get pulled over.
If you truly believe that the issue of trailer tests was put to bed for under 3500kg then fine. That's your opinion and you are entitled to it. This is mainly about trailer safety, and will know doubt bring around the discussion on annual tests again. Where any gov can, or will make a fast buck they will.
This is about all trailers below 3500kg which currently do not need an annual test. Not just caravans being towed, or motorhomes that may be towing,
Up to now with this research, the main prohibition issue on caravans as been lighting followed by tyres, and 1 insecure wheel trim. The rest have been delayed where you fix it there and then.
This Club is only one of many that are sat around the table with the APPG relating to this research.
Members
Approved Workshop Scheme
British Horse Society
Caravan and Motorhome Club
Donna Hussey
Highways England
Highways England
National Caravan Council
National Farmers Union
NaVCIS
NTTA
Scott Hussey
SMMT
The Camping and Caravanning Club
Tilly’s Trailer PassWith the The National Caravan Council (NCC) is the appointed Secretariat for the APPG on Trailer and Towing Safety. The NCC is the trade association representing more than 550 different companies across the touring caravan, motorhome, caravan holiday home and residential park home industries in the UK.
Moderator comment: Paragraph removed to comply with Community Guidelines.
Thanks
0 -
I used to have a neighbour who was a rather cocky, car salesman and a bit of a poseur. He had a caravan which he very rarely used and loaned it to a friend who used it to go on holiday with his family. As his friend was driving along the motorway, the caravan wheel came off. Very luckily, it did not cause an accident but did cause great hilarity amongst my neighbour's friends in the local pub! I do have a sense of humour, but did not however, find it hilarious. My neighbour should have known better, especially in view of his profession and should have checked the van to make sure that it was safe to use. it could have so easily caused a very bad accident and in my view, safety should always be of concern to us all.
0 -
You're right, vbfg, safety is paramount and this weekend in particular when little used vans and newbies take to the road is an optimum time for these checks. It's in everyone's interests.
Yes, it will add to delays but if it's a choice of arriving later than intended at a campsite or potentially arriving at a hospital instead, I know which I'd choose.
0 -
I don't think that was all the objections? Yes each caravan would require it's own reg plate but in possible addition to that it was rejected, with the full support of all political parties (and the two clubs) as it was clearly not needed. The statistics from government figures I recall show that accidents involving caravans were about 0.08 to 0.07 percent per year. So the cost was not justified.
Also I recall there was the ridiculous idea that farm trailers would be exempt.
0 -
Yes and that would have been correct, but I recall it was the way and words in which you said it?
0 -
There is also a very technical difficulty in the means of testing overrun brakes. We had a lengthy debate on this forum and I’m not getting embroiled in that again.
0 -
My point, exactly👍🏻
0 -
Apart from the words you used, ED, once the edit was (quite rightly) made to Ray's post, your post made no sense whatsoever. 😂
0 -
Don't ask me I didn't remove it nor offended, but at a guess it may have been the substitution of characters such as &%$... in trying to mask certain 'inappropriate' (on a public forum) words?
1 -
+1 (- if I knew what overrun brakes are)
I think the nail in the coffin (sorry is that appropriate when talking about safety?) was the idea that (expensive) caravans would have to get tested while farm trailers wouldn't? Why were they exempt? Either all or nothing?
0 -
I’ve seen far more dangerous farm trailers than caravans🤷🏻♂️
(The system where the hydraulic ram puts the caravan brakes on when the car slows)
0 -
ok... sorry still over my head
I understood caravan, brakes, car, slows. So there is some water powered male sheep in there?
1 -
Liquid, yes. Water, no. Ewe got that a bit woolly.😂😂🐏
2 -
over run brakes ..... car slows down as you say, hitch compresses and levers underneath the A frame then pull rods underneath the caravan and through a series of linkages pull each wheels' brake on. It's the same lever that the break away cable attaches to.
2
