Am i legal??

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Dry_Doc

VOSA could do to produce a flowchart similar to the one earlier in this thread, that would make it more transparant.

What is this step by step wizzard: https://www.gov.uk/towing-rules not helpful enough? It strikes me its better than a flowchart because rather than trying to twist your answer to get to a yes, or ranting about what ifs, it steps you through the answers that apply to YOU.

Oh, and I got to that link by typing "what can I tow" into google...

[Gramas]

Yes used that poly and thought I was ok but after hearing experienced folk on hear I have checked and I'm not,

[Dry_Doc]

Originally Posted by Poly

What is this step by step wizzard: https://www.gov.uk/towing-rules not helpful enough? It strikes me its better than a flowchart because rather than trying to twist your answer to get to a yes, or ranting about what ifs, it steps you through the answers that apply to YOU.

Oh, and I got to that link by typing "what can I tow" into google...

Still needs some tightening up:

Originally Posted by www.gov.uk

You can already tow trailers up to 750kg.

You can also tow heavier trailers if the fully laden trailer weight isn’t more than the unladen vehicle weight. The combined weight of trailer and vehicle can’t be more than 3,500kg.

'Combined weight' is too ambiguous - it needs to specify combined MAM's. It's small things like this that lead to confusion.

[Nos4r2]

Personally, I think the law doesn't go far enough. 90% of people I see towing trailers are so bad at it that they need extra training,yet they don't think they do and shout loudly that they know what they're doing.

None so blind etc...

'Been doing it for years mate, never had an accident'

'It'll be OK'

'It won't happen to me'

Etc.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Dry_Doc

'Combined weight' is too ambiguous - it needs to specify combined MAM's. It's small things like this that lead to confusion.

Agreed.

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Personally, I think the law doesn't go far enough.

I agree in principle .. but in the current climate where police now dont operate on simple cases of law breaking and admonishment .. thats a dangerous position.

Its clear we now live a target driven regime. TV last week (the show eludes me) showed a cop program that had a female officer who highlighted the 'credits' system where officers are rewarded for as many collars as they can get.

With budget cuts .. constabularies everywhere are maximising their take .. sadly I feel this is also punishing those who 'believe' they were doing the best they can.

Mcd22 mentioned two types of cop .. theres also two types of VOSA guys .. some that have some sort of discretion, and some that clearly dont .. Ive met them both .. but as I get older .. the never ending changes of regulations create a cynical devide, of those of us, who are trying to do our best .. against those who can enforce the law .. just because they can ..... I pretty much think almost every one this forum does their utmost to abide by the law ..

[Gramas]

I fully understand that I need to sit test to tow rib but how would I be on towing this with camping gear in with the navara

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Gramas

I fully understand that I need to sit test to tow rib but how would I be on towing this with camping gear in with the navara

Attachment 87913

Presumably it is unbraked and weighs < 750 kg fully laden? if so you are fine.

[m chappelow]

Originally Posted by Poly

Presumably it is unbraked and weighs < 750 kg fully laden? if so you are fine.

If its Unbraked weighs less than half the weight of the towing car & its fitted with a safety chain .

[Gramas]

Can't see it being any more than that

[Festinghouse]

yeah fine with that mate

[Gramas]

Booked in for days lesson and then test so by newyear I shall no longer need to worry

[Jeff Hutcheon]

Originally Posted by Gramas

Booked in for days lesson and then test so by newyear I shall no longer need to worry

Well done lad, you can:t go wrong! !

[Festinghouse]

haha yeah you can! - work hard on getting rid of bad habits, remember its a driving test so both hands on wheel at all times, mirror signal maneuver and all that. its sad that cocking up on something like that will make you fail what should be a 'trailer test'.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Festinghouse

haha yeah you can! - work hard on getting rid of bad habits, remember its a driving test so both hands on wheel at all times, mirror signal maneuver and all that. its sad that cocking up on something like that will make you fail what should be a 'trailer test'.

You're saying you don't mirror-signal-manoevre then? Or that it's perfectly alright to drive badly on a test as long as you don't hit anything?...

[Festinghouse]

absolutely correct what im saying is, just like the vast majority of drivers, i had loads of bad habits which are hard to get out of - things that most people would think of as being fine like steering with one hand etc. as for driving badly on the test, having bad habits doesnt always mean driving badly, and i would rather there was a little more leniency towards this to reflect the fact that the driver has years of experience, unlike when passing the first driving test.

[chris.moody]

I find powerboating makes your car driving worse. One hand for the wheel in a boat, two hands on the wheel in a car. I sometimes find myself driving the car with one hand on the wheel and one on the gearstick Strangely pushing hard forwards on the gearstick does nothing.

Chris

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Festinghouse

absolutely correct what im saying is, just like the vast majority of drivers, i had loads of bad habits which are hard to get out of - things that most people would think of as being fine like steering with one hand etc. as for driving badly on the test, having bad habits doesnt always mean driving badly, and i would rather there was a little more leniency towards this to reflect the fact that the driver has years of experience, unlike when passing the first driving test.

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by Festinghouse

i would rather there was a little more leniency towards this to reflect the fact that the driver has years of experience, unlike when passing the first driving test.

I quite agree...

If I ever have to sit a driving test again I hope they'll understand that I'm a busy man and have evolved myself to be able to multi-task unlike lesser mortals. So I am more than capable of checking my email on my phone while talking on it and possibly typing a text message at the same time. So I see no reason why they wont let me do that while doing this driving test malarky... ...people are always saying that tests should be more like real life. Maybe to spice things up they'll supply me a big mac to eat at the same time as well... if I manage to eat it without dropping the gerkin on my lap I should surely pass the test...?

[kerny]

Funny innit with some of these rules whilst driving.....

some people have been done for eating a sandwich when driving...
done for drinking out of a bottle or can whilst driving... yet its appears to be quite acceptable to smoke whilst driving.

If you drop a piece of sandwich on your lap I can't see a problem but drop a lighted cig on your lap well.....

also you bend down and look away when lighting up with the in car cig lighter or even an ordinary lighter

Police use hand radio mics whilst driving as do taxi drivers... yet you cant do that legally with a mobile.