A66 caravan smash

Greater than 50% of motor home drivers are retired

I often drive up the A65 a long queue of traffic with and elderly driver in a shiny new car that's capable of cruising at a ton doing 40

Woe betide any one who wishes to overtake , their speed increases dramatically

I'm not sure if it failing eyesight or reactions or just doesn't know where second gear is

But they ARE always at the front

DieSea

In message , Uno-Hoo! writes

Just ban caravans, unless the tower holds the appropriate HGV licence for articulated vehicles, this should get rid of most of this rubbish from our roads,

F*ck sake. Got a licence, f****it?

--=20 Conor

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--=20 Conor

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And like artic trailers, bring in a mandatory annual MOT for all car=20 trailers.

--=20 Conor

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Why?

I only very occassionally had to drive a Transit, so it's of no concern to be what the limit would be. I had quite reasonably assumed that a bog-standard Transit would be covered as a 'car derived van'.

Except that a Transit is not derived from a car.

They're hardly what I'd consider to be the kind of goods vehicle that needs special rules, given that most Transits are no heavier than a large saloon / MPV / SUV.

What about when fully loaded?

Most people have no idea that a loaded vehicle will take longer to stop or turn than an unloaded one.

SWB Transit.... hmmm, probably still weighs less than a Disco3 / Range Rover with a family of 4 and their luggage.

Know many saloons/MPV/SUV that can have up to 1.5t of load in the back=20 sliding about?

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Which car would it be reasonable to assume that the transit is derived from?

Anyway, the speed limit for all transits is governed purely by physics.

(c:

And like artic trailers, bring in a mandatory annual MOT for all car trailers.

I would agree with you if a) there was any evidence that car-towed trailers were use anywhere near as frequently as artic trailers and b) if there was any evidence to suggest that there are frequent problems with caravan/trailer safety. The fact is that most car towed trailers and caravans are used for just a couple of thousand miles each year, if that. My rubbish trailer is used for a six mile round trip to the council tip four or five times a year. To suggest at that level of useage that is should have an annual MOT is a nonsense. I also tow a caravan but don't have any regular pattern of use. This year I have use it once (round trip to Brighton from Cheshire). On other years I have used it three or four times. Unlike motorhomes which are often used daily from a site - caravans are towed to the site and then pitched up until the journey home. The running gear, brakes, etc, does not, therefore, get anywhere near the wear that an artic trailer would.

Uno-Hoo!

That's even more reason to have an annual MOT for car trailers and caravans.

As evidenced by the deterioration shown in my Alfa 75 in the 3 months I haven't used it - with regular use it's never given an issues, since it's been standing for 3 months without being moved, the brakes have gone soft and will no longer lock the wheels when doing an 'emergency' stop.

The same will apply to trailers and caravans - there's more scope for things to seize up and stop working if it's sat around doing nothing than there is if it's regularly used.

Just as wear and tear problems arise through use, other problems arise through lack of use, e.g. brake cylinder seals harden and fail to contain the oil leading to brake failure.

Components deteriorate moew due to age than use, that's why (I suspect) the MoT test is time based rather than mileage based. LGVs and coaches have additional safety checks but even these are time based rather than on distance covered.

Even MORE reason to have them tested. A regularly used trailer will be=20 in better condition than one laid up a lot especially in relation to=20 tyre condition, working brakes and wheel bearings.

When VOSA do their campaigns, they seem to find plenty with defective=20 brakes.

--=20 Conor

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Even MORE reason to have them tested. A regularly used trailer will be in better condition than one laid up a lot especially in relation to tyre condition, working brakes and wheel bearings.

A fair point and caravanners are urged to replace their tyres at least every

When VOSA do their campaigns, they seem to find plenty with defective brakes.

That may be so but statistics show that there are very very few accidents involving caravans.

Uno-Hoo!