Continantal custom and practice was introduced to this thread by Lutz in support of your own argument Prof.
You didn't try to limit the scope of the discussion then. 🤔
Many people accept the 85% recommendation 'without question' because, having paid good money for membership of one of the major clubs or to purchase a copy of Practical Caravan Magazine why would they wilfully ignore the advice given by the clubs or magazine?
I wouldn't imagine that many people are too bothered either way, and certainly not bothered enough about the advice that they have paid for to question it.
When a person or organisation describes the 85% figure as 'the 85% rule' they are describing a wideley accepted ' rule' in exactly the same way that mathematicians describe 'laws'.
The laws have no legal consequences but they are universally described as laws.
The 85% rule has no basis in law, I've never seen any authoritative account which tries to claim otherwise because the word 'rule' is merely a colloquialism.
Most of us realise this after reading the full text of the advice that we paid for.
Hello Parksy,
I have re-read the entire thread, and the introduction of the German towing speed restrictions was first mentioned in post:488039 on the Feb 17, 2020. There were some very specific points made in that comment which are factually incorrect. Both JTQ & Lutz responded to the post. Their responses did not align for or against the threads principle discussion. They only sought to clarify the German law by defining how its criteria are applied.
There may be similar concerns about the way the German authorities produced there limits, but there are two major differences, the first its not offered just as advice, its their law, and secondly any one found guilty will have sanctions applied.
I feel It is incredibly dangerous to compare the industry towing advice's colloquial misrepresentation to Mathematical or scientific "Laws"
Mathematical and Scientific "Laws" have been thoroughly investigated and have withstood challenges to be shown they are as repeatable as can be. They have earn't their description as a "law" through solid logical appraisal.
But despite their apparent certainty, in the words of Albert Einstein who is believed to have said: "No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong." they constantly remain open to challenge. In the event of a challenge demonstrating there is uncertainty about the "law" further work is undertaken to review it and if necessary revise it.
Please show us where similar work or peer review has been carried out to verify the industries guidance to make it have the equivalent authority to a mathematical or scientific "law"
You have described the industry advice as being a "Rule of Thumb" and I can accept that, but unfortunately it is more often than not repeated but missing the "of Thumb" part, which leaves it with a very different perception of its meaning.
More experienced caravanners may well be aware the advice is only a "rule of thumb" but answers in forums and in some magazines often do not make it clear, and that's when a novice caravanner reads the shortened advice which appears to have been given a sense of authority by the use of authoritative terms or the omission of the advisory notices and other towing criteria.
I have stated several times that all references about the industry advice I have seen from the caravanning organisations have stated it is advice, It is the public and some magazine articles who often major on the weight ratio, and forget to include the other tips.
With regards people who may or may not "wilfully ignore the advice given by the clubs or magazine" I cannot speak on their behalf, you would have to ask them personally. But I do observe we have had many forum questions about outfits that do contravene the advice, Perhaps they only saw the magazine in the dentist's waiting room and didn't pay for it!!!