Clarification on B+E legislation please.

[TonyC]

Originally Posted by ROG.

Not correct - it will affect ALL drivers when towing with a B+E

Actually he is correct the way I read it.

Your entitlement to tow trailers will stay as it was when you passed your driving test.

Therefore, only people who pass their 'E' bit AFTER 19 January 2013 need to follow the new rules, which is the sub-sections headed Category BE & Category C1E.

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by TonyC

Actually he is correct the way I read it.

Your entitlement to tow trailers will stay as it was when you passed your driving test.

Therefore, only people who pass their 'E' bit AFTER 19 January 2013 need to follow the new rules, which is the sub-sections headed Category BE & Category C1E.

Please read it again especially the bits in blue

[TonyC]

then they're contradicting themselves.

On the one hand, they're telling us that our B+E status won't change, then on the other hand, they're telling us that it is changing by not allowing us to tow heavier trailers.

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by TonyC

then they're contradicting themselves.

On the one hand, they're telling us that our B+E status won't change, then on the other hand, they're telling us that it is changing by not allowing us to tow heavier trailers.

No they are not - they are specifying things very clearly which is strange for them!!

I suppose they could have put in two different sections - one for new drivers and one for existing drivers and doubled up on some of what they said

[Nos4r2]

I'm glad I've got a C+E licence. So much simpler.

[SW Boat Transport]

Originally Posted by ROG.

Not correct - it will affect ALL drivers when towing with a B+E

Existing car or small vehicle drivers

If you already have a licence to drive cars or small vehicles (category B and BE), you'll keep your entitlement to tow trailers. Your entitlement to tow trailers will stay as it was when you passed your driving test.
To tow heavier trailers after 19 January 2013, you'll need to follow the rules for new drivers, below.
New drivers from 19 January 2013


If you pass your test to drive cars or small vehicles up to 3,500 kilograms (kg) (category B) from 19 January 2013, you’ll be able to tow:

• light trailers weighing no more than 750 kg
• trailers weighing more than 750 kg, where the combined weight of the towing vehicle (car or small vehicle) and the trailer is not more than 3,500 kg

Category BE
If your trailer weighs over 750 kg and the combined trailer and towing vehicle weight is more than 3,500 kg, you’ll need to pass a further test. The trailer you tow must not be heavier than 3,500 kg. This test will be shown on your driving licence as category BE.
Category C1E
To tow a trailer weighing more than 3,500 kg with a car or small vehicle (category B), you’ll need to pass a test for category C1E.

New rules for vehicles you can drive and minimum ages : Directgov - Motoring clearly states "If you already have a driving licence, you'll keep your entitlements to drive the different types of vehicles shown on your driving licence".

[SW Boat Transport]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

I'm glad I've got a C+E licence. So much simpler.

Ditto!

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by SW RIB Charter

New rules for vehicles you can drive and minimum ages : Directgov - Motoring clearly states "If you already have a driving licence, you'll keep your entitlements to drive the different types of vehicles shown on your driving licence".

If you choose not to read what is written then I cannot influence that

The only saving grace is that you are unlikely to ever tow a trailer over 3500 kgs MAM with a B category vehicle and get prosecuted for doing so - unless you already have a C1+E of course

[SW Boat Transport]

Originally Posted by ROG.

If you choose not to read what is written then I cannot influence that

The only saving grace is that you are unlikely to ever tow a trailer over 3500 kgs MAM with a B category vehicle and get prosecuted for doing so - unless you already have a C1+E of course

I have just phoned the DVLA for clarification and been told that "existing licence holders will not be affected by the changes being introduced in January 2013"

[ROG.]

I looked with fresh eyes at the new rules and I'll concede it could be read either way so I have emailed DVLA to get a definitive

I will post that answer

[Jonny2488]

Originally Posted by ROG.

I looked with fresh eyes at the new rules and I'll concede it could be read either way so I have emailed DVLA to get a definitive

I will post that answer

Any news??

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by Jonny2488

Any news??

Had one reply but it did not answer the question so I sent a further email and asked the same question in a different way - so still waiting ....

[Tim M]

The news rules do appear (ignoring issues regarding older drivers) to be a bit simpler to understand than the current set-up.

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by Tim M

The news rules do appear (ignoring issues regarding older drivers) to be a bit simpler to understand than the current set-up.

At the moment those are only 'a guide to the new rules' and will not be put into law until November/December this year

When talking to DVLA on the phone one of their chief supervisors explained this to me
He said that is why much of the current rules are missing from it such as the trailer MAM not being more than the vehicle unladen weight for B licence towing and the word MAM missing from the 3500 kgs

He suggested waiting until later in the year to find out the exact legal wording

Seems daft to me to put something into the public domain that is not clear and precise

[Jonny2488]

Thanks for that ROG. I think it's quite ridiculous that quite an important law is so easily and widely misunderstood by so many.

Thank you all for your help/efforts.

[Xk59D]

i'm sitting my B+E next week after a lengthy delay. FYI even the instructors i've been to (2 diff companies) don't actually understand the law. both of them thought i was breaking the law towing my boat with my old car even though technically i was 5kg under the limit and therefor legal. if the instructors don't understand it you can understand why joe bloggs struggles with it.

i would hope i don't need to sit more tests in the immediate future if they decide to change the rules from the projected plan they have posted already.

cheers

[Cookee]

I'm taking my C+E on Monday morning, and they have changed the reversing part of the test so I hope I don't cock it up! Good luck with your test Xk59D!

[ROG.]

Originally Posted by Cookee

I'm taking my C+E on Monday morning, and they have changed the reversing part of the test so I hope I don't cock it up! Good luck with your test Xk59D!

I watched an artic do the test reverse on the new sized area - no probs

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by ROG.

I watched an artic do the test reverse on the new sized area - no probs

My mate passed it last week - they had brought the new test in early in Exeter but he managed without practising it so it can't be too hard - it's the unknown!

[Jonny2488]

Just passed my B+E test this morning - piece of cake with a bit of thought and practice!

Thanks for the help and advice folks.

J.

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