 | Home > Off Topic > DVLA Open consultation on HGV/BUS and removing trailer tests |
 
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| TamarBlue11 Member Since: 25 Sep 2020 Location: England Posts: 213   
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Has anyone else seen this? Particularly the point about change 3 "Change 3: allow car drivers to tow a trailer without the need for an additional test"
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultation...extra-test |
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13th Aug 2021 11:07am |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 3997 
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So a return to how it was for us more mature folk you were entrusted with the ability to tow without an additional test. I’m for it. I don’t think the current arrangement has significantly improved the standards of of people towing with cars.
The current situation also drives the perverse behaviour of people buying a smaller vehicle to tow a larger trailer in order to avoid the need to take the test. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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13th Aug 2021 11:19am |
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| nicam Member Since: 14 Dec 2007 Location: deepest Lancashire Posts: 156 
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Plenty of drivers struggle to drive a car correctly - never mind one with a trailer on the back!
Some form of training / testing can only be a good thing, surely. The very fact that a lot of caravans have these manoeuvering motor things on the wheels shows that the drivers can`t put their trailer where they want it! Don`t drive faster than your angel can fly! |
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13th Aug 2021 12:11pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 3997
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Personally, I think the main problems stem from poor loading, poor high speed driving, poor trailer maintenance (especially tyres, wheels and hubs) and too large a trailer/caravan for the tow vehicle. I don't think any of that is addressed much by the current testing situation so for me you might as well bin it. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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13th Aug 2021 12:20pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16877 
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The trailer safety report to which there is a link from the consultation document makes interesting reading.
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13th Aug 2021 12:38pm |
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| 90 Dreamer Member Since: 13 Jul 2019 Location: Oop North Posts: 2054 
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they would be far better educating and enforcing current guidelines before chunting on to the 'next' thing............
lane discipline and failure to understand simple things like box junctions, etc would be an help |
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13th Aug 2021 12:48pm |
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| excossack Member Since: 22 Feb 2012 Location: North West Posts: 5743 
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Maybe make trailer towing part of the standard driving lessons ? 1999 Defender TD5 110
Regards John M0VAZ Econet Station 48 no clock |
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13th Aug 2021 2:07pm |
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| Marlin.45 Member Since: 20 May 2014 Location: Llangadog, Carmarthenshire Posts: 54  
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After a following a van pulling a 'Mr Bouncy Castle' trailer on the 3rd lane of the M4 last night (80-85mph) testing is the least of our worries? 2006 TD5 90 County
1961 MF35 |
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13th Aug 2021 2:27pm |
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| 90 Dreamer Member Since: 13 Jul 2019 Location: Oop North Posts: 2054
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why complicate it for people who will never even consider towing?? |
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13th Aug 2021 2:37pm |
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| excossack Member Since: 22 Feb 2012 Location: North West Posts: 5743
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Experience? Or at least have it as an option? 1999 Defender TD5 110
Regards John M0VAZ Econet Station 48 no clock |
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13th Aug 2021 3:01pm |
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| Shroppy Member Since: 25 Feb 2016 Location: Shropshire Posts: 848 
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As someone who has sat a trailer test and paid handsomely for a day of training I didn't really need, I sit firmly in the 'don't remove the test' camp.
Sure, it's frustrating that my parents are entitled to tow a trailer and drive a 7.5t lorry but you can do a LOT of damage with these in the wrong hands and I wouldn't trust half of my peers behind the wheel without some additional training. That said, I would support the change to the HGV licensing, I have often been tempted to sit my test (always fancied a MAN truck) but have always been put off by the cost / multi stage nature of the tests. Of course I'd then have to afford and store a MAN truck so.....   1985 127 V8 Build Thread
Series 2 109" Series 1 80" |
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19th Aug 2021 7:21am |
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| hank Member Since: 12 Sep 2016 Location: South Wales Posts: 2231
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Same 
I would have concerns over the blanket removal of the requirement for car drivers to take a B+E test. The training is a bit arduous but does contain some essential information - particularly around hitching, reversing and general towing. It would be ludicrous to expect Joe Public to tow responsibly without training. That said, does it actually make any difference given that a huge number of people currently tow illegally - myself included for nearly 20 years until a few months back  Click image to enlarge > 110 XS Double Cab > Instagram @simonlanemind |
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19th Aug 2021 8:59am |
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| Procta Member Since: 04 Dec 2016 Location: Sunderland Posts: 4937
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leave things the way they are, for safety reasons.
My dad has said to me i should get my trailer licence, as it can open more doors for me, But for me its the test thing, the practical car test was a nightmare to pass! Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it! |
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23rd Aug 2021 5:56am |
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| Siwynne Member Since: 04 Nov 2016 Location: West lancs Posts: 559 
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I regularly tow small trailers you can forget are there and big ones too. I learned to tow working for a local authority when I was 17/18. Thirty years ago. Back then anybody with a licence could tow and it was dangerous. Any rookie lifeguard could jump in a Landy and blast up and down the coast pulling equipment and boats with zero experience or training. I had some good mentors and was willing to listen/learn. There were several incidents involving trailers but fortunately nothing major. I wouldn’t trust my peers back then who all had the correct license to tow. Looking at many of the entitled snowflakes we are producing today it’s very clear a system of testing is required. The attitude towards driving is changing and many kids see it as inconvenient and costly and would happily just pay for an Uber.
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23rd Aug 2021 7:10am |
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