HANDS-ON TOWING THE BASICS
Making statements of intent and retracting them at the last minute is not a wise move, especially when it risks causing confusion and harm. While resolving the HGV driver shortage was going to be neither quick, nor easy, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Department of Transport (DfT) announced a variety of measures to tackle the problem. Easing driving test centre backlogs was one of them. The result permitted all drivers, who passed their test after 1996, to tow a large trailer weighing up to 3500kgs without undergoing a separate mandatory assessment, starting from 15th November 2021.
The announcements appeared to have the desired effect. Driving test centres and instructors had most of their booked trailer tests cancelled, removing tens of thousands of appointments in one fell swoop. Then, at the eleventh hour, the government departments postponed the original date indefinitely, giving no reason, leaving the affected public with no legal chance of towing and no means to book a test. After several weeks in limbo, 16th December 2021 became the set date on which the changes came into being.
The safety worries
Understandably, road safety bodies are worried about a flood of inexperienced towing drivers taking to British roads. While we emphasise that different driving techniques and extra laws (including revised speed limits) must be appreciated when towing, CM readers are more likely to be interested in the hands-on issues. For this reason, we are grateful to the National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA) for its counsel, which is the main UK body that represents and upholds high standards in the light towing industry, and its three members that lent their specific expertise to this feature.
Car checks
As this feature covers the basics of towing and trailer maintenance, for a trailer that can weigh up to 3500kgs, it focusses less on the motorcar’s needs. Yet, as towing places the mechanical parts under greater stress, ensure that your vehicle is kept serviced and is in good overall condition. However, because this editorial covers relatively small trailers, the complexities of installing extra engine/transmission cooling aids and heavy-duty suspension to a typical modern motorcar is not covered.
WHAT IS CHANGING
► If you passed your car driving test before 1997, you can still tow, provided that the car and trailer’s combined maximum authorised mass does not exceed 8250kgs. Should your test pass date be after 1997, you are limited to a 750kgs trailer weight, unless in certain limited situations. The changes mean that holders of all post-1997 car driving licences can tow trailers with a maximum authorised mass of 3500kgs. For more details,
