Until 1997, any driver passing their test could tow any (normal) trailer/caravan - the restriction only applied to new drivers passing their test from 1997 onwards. The limit of trailers at 3,500 kg has been in place for many decades.

Statistically, those who tow trailers/caravans are no more likely to be involved in an accident than those who don't - no insurer increases the premium when informed that the driver will be towing - if there were increased risk you can be sure that insurers would impose higher premiums.

When I started towing a caravan in '83, the UK towing limit was 50 mph, recently increased from 40 mph - that limit was later increased to 60 mph on motorways and dual carriageways - bear in mind that parts of Europe are 62 mph (100 kph) and France is 81 mph (130 kph) in certain conditions. My observation is that compliance of towing speed limits in the UK is much nearer 100% than the general populations compliance with the 70 mph limit.

Nobody has mentioned that the reason for scrapping the car + trailer test was to enable the examiners who were doing car towing tests to do more HGV tests as there was/is a national shortage of HGV drivers.

The car and trailer test (B+E) is based on the lorry driving test and lasts for about one hour - As a comparison the car test usually takes 30 to 40 minutes.

B+E tests are only conducted at vocational (bus and lorry) driving test centres where the reversing part of the test is carried out off public roads..

The big problem is trailers in the UK require no official annual test, which in some ways is no bother for a little wheelbarrow sized jobbie which people use for tip runs and as an extra boot for family holidays or camping, as unless the thing actually detaches itself these little things are unlikely to have any detrimental effect to how a car drives, and few people can reverse those tiny things anyway because the steering lock on so many cars can't keep up with the speed one of those toy trailer turns, a trailer that you can fit an 8 x 4ft sheet of wood into is about the smallest for competent accurate maneuvering and by that stage they're getting a bit heavy when loaded for maneuvering by hand.

When trailers get bigger and heavier and you get into overrun brakes then i'm surprised we haven't had some form of annual testing and possibly registration, could be a handy extra revenue wheeze for a bankrupt (morally or otherwise) govt.

I've towed all sorts over the years, sometimes borrowing large heavy car transporter trailers, the overrun brakes on which can vary from very good to nothing to be found inside the brake drums at all in one case.

If we assume the overrun brakes are in good order, then unless someone is clueless about weighting, or expects a really short wheelbase or particularly light or unsuitable vehicle to be stable towing an ill weighted trailer considerably heavier than the towing vehicle, then most drivers (once they've had a tail wagging the dog scare) will soon get used to towing, its not an artform just merely needs some thinking and common sense applying, ie don't run before you can walk and just because you are towing with a Range Rover dioesn't mean it can't all go pear shaped.

Horse trailers mentioned above, these are among the most stable trailers ever put on the road.

I've seen hyrdraulic overrun brakes fitted to trailers before, basic system as would be found on any drum braked car from the 70's, not sure these are any better than a good cable or rod system, each type requires sensible maintenance to keep them in fine fettle, but arguably less maintenance than modern cars with disc/caliper systems really require but seldom receive, systems which are more open to the elements and far more prone to seizing than any drum brake i've seen.

Caravanning may well die in popularity anyway as suitable ICE towing vehicles become more difficult to find anyway, the only bonues i can see of a battery tow vehicle would be the 300/500kg it weighs over and above its equivalent ICE vehicle, but then gross train weight will surely come into play, with car/caravan oufits maybe bordering on needing a an HGV licence.

Focussed, the alleged shortage of HGV licence holders never was, and now it certainly isn't.

Edited by gordonbennet on 11/12/2022 at 12:02