Chelmsford Crackdown

[Parksy]

Police, working with the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service and Central Registration & Identification Scheme recently launched roadside checks on vehicles towing trailers or caravans and some drivers were issued with fixed penalty notices.
Checks were carried out on driving licence categories and drivers towing without the correct BE licence qualification were fined and awarded licence penalty points.
Caravan tyres were checked for compliance with manufacturing five year replacement recommendations and some trailers or caravans either lacked breakaway cables or they were incorrectly fitted.
A police spokesman reported that there will be further operations of this kind, so fit those extended towing mirrors, don't overload your caravan and comply with safety recommendations, particularly with regard to tyres and breakaway cables

 

[Thingy]

Checks were carried out on driving licence categories and drivers towing without the correct BE licence qualification were fined and awarded licence penalty points.

And rightly so. No excuse, the information is out there.

Caravan tyres were checked for compliance with manufacturing five year replacement recommendations

As far as am aware, that is just a guidline, not law. Its the tyre type and condition they should be checking, load rating too. Age is nothing to do with them, but again, rightly so.

Parksy, you and I both worked in the same industry and when you spend your life on the road, the accidents you see mount up over the years. Its staggering to see that when people are injured, very often the culprit gets away free and the innocent driver takes the brunt. I am a massive advocate of road safety and have to admit I have a real down on my fellow caravanners. From incorrect loading leading to unstable caravans, to ludicrous overtaking or failing to address junctions properly, lack of use of those mirrors we talk about so often on here and just plain towing inexperience, I am all for road side checks.

The number ot times we hear from newbies asking how to tow, how to do this and that or just voicing their fears, I personally would have no issue with a towing course being compulsory.

 

[Jaydug]

roadside checks on vehicles towing trailers or caravans[/url]

I don't understand. This can't be current because below the banner there's also a link to the 2015 election.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

We did a quick return trip south Wales to Nottingham (without van) Fri/Sat and there were quite a number of caravans on the motorways. About 20% of the towing vehicles did not have extension mirrors, none of which could see down the side of the van as we couldn't see the mirrors as we pulled out to overtake. Sheer lunacy. A couple also appeared to have a very high nose weight as the front of the van and the back of the tow vehicle were obviously very low.

 

[ProfJohnL]

We did a quick return trip south Wales to Nottingham (without van) Fri/Sat and there were quite a number of caravans on the motorways. About 20% of the towing vehicles did not have extension mirrors, none of which could see down the side of the van as we couldn't see the mirrors as we pulled out to overtake. Sheer lunacy. A couple also appeared to have a very high nose weight as the front of the van and the back of the tow vehicle were obviously very low.

Its imprecise to judge an out fit based just on how it looks,but id agree its usually goods starting point.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

It may be 'imprecise', -- but I reckon if it don't look right it ain't right. - A good rule of thumb for alot of things, besides caravanning.

 

[ProfJohnL]

" but I reckon if it don't look right it ain't right. - A good rule of thumb for alot of things, besides caravanning.

Sorry but I can't and won't subscribe to such adhoc inappropriate approach, becasue the corollary if it looks rights its probably right" is definitely not a safe or sensible approach, and that applies to caravans as well. Ill duck now becasue that's definitely the sitution that arises time and again for nose load! hmy:

 

[KeefySher]

[
Its imprecise to judge an out fit based just on how it looks,but id agree its usually goods starting point.

On the M4 eastbound yesterday afternoon there was a filthy dirty, green algae covered Abbey caravan ahead of us.

It was doing 68mph (my new car has a radar system that adjusts it's speed to that of the vehicle in front if it is going slower than the preset speed limit I've set it at, in this case 70mph. I set this system for the recommended 2 second rule at 70mph, despite it's ability to stop my vehicle on it's own (Ive been learning this past 1100 miles in 2 weeks).
It was swaying all over lane 1, often onto the hard shoulder over the white line. My car has a system that keeps it in the middle of the lane using cameras and other sensors, so it wasn't me wandering to give the visual impression I was swaying!!.
It had the heiki large roof light fully open.
It had the TV aerial in the uppermost position pointed at the last used transmitter.

As we passed it, towed by a heavily laden and filthy dirty VW Passat saloon car that had stuff piled up above the windows in the rear seat area, that appeared on it's rear suspension stops, caravan nose down, cardown, driver smoking like a chimney, oblivious to anything around him with no extension mirrors.

My judgement was precise enough to know to get clear of that particular outfit, asap

Approx 2 miles later there was a caravan on the hard shoulder, with a distraught looking lady stood there viewing the trail of tyre bits and various caravan trims and bodywork parts strewn along lane 1. The tow vehicle, a big pick up truck type thing, dirty and no extension mirrors was down, with the remains of the caravan nose down.

Maybe these 2 were in convoy!!

Still it is the start of the silly season with a spell of warm weather, easter school holidays etc, why bother spending time and effort setting up properly when you get to a site first to baggy the best pitch??

 

[Dustydog]

Oh the joys of spring
Oh dear Prof . Too much chastisement perhaps
They were only gentle observations quoted. B)

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Do you know 'prof' my philosophy has stood me in good stead for 70+ years!" (and if you wait for perfection then you never get anywhere!)

 

[ProfJohnL]

Do you know 'prof' my philosophy has stood me in good stead for 70+ years!" (and if you wait for perfection then you never get anywhere!)

I think that might be the process the caravan manufacturers use for quality control :blink:

 

[Thingy]

the process the caravan manufacturers use for quality control

Quality control in the real sense no longer exists. There is very much an attitude that we will let the customer find out if there is something not right, and then put it right..................maybe.

 

[emmerson]

[
Its imprecise to judge an out fit based just on how it looks,but id agree its usually goods starting point.

On the M4 eastbound yesterday afternoon there was a filthy dirty, green algae covered Abbey caravan ahead of us.

It was doing 68mph (my new car has a radar system that adjusts it's speed to that of the vehicle in front if it is going slower than the preset speed limit I've set it at, in this case 70mph. I set this system for the recommended 2 second rule at 70mph, despite it's ability to stop my vehicle on it's own (Ive been learning this past 1100 miles in 2 weeks).
It was swaying all over lane 1, often onto the hard shoulder over the white line. My car has a system that keeps it in the middle of the lane using cameras and other sensors, so it wasn't me wandering to give the visual impression I was swaying!!.
It had the heiki large roof light fully open.
It had the TV aerial in the uppermost position pointed at the last used transmitter.

As we passed it, towed by a heavily laden and filthy dirty VW Passat saloon car that had stuff piled up above the windows in the rear seat area, that appeared on it's rear suspension stops, caravan nose down, cardown, driver smoking like a chimney, oblivious to anything around him with no extension mirrors.

My judgement was precise enough to know to get clear of that particular outfit, asap

Approx 2 miles later there was a caravan on the hard shoulder, with a distraught looking lady stood there viewing the trail of tyre bits and various caravan trims and bodywork parts strewn along lane 1. The tow vehicle, a big pick up truck type thing, dirty and no extension mirrors was down, with the remains of the caravan nose down.

Maybe these 2 were in convoy!!

Still it is the start of the silly season with a spell of warm weather, easter school holidays etc, why bother spending time and effort setting up properly when you get to a site first to baggy the best pitch??

Keefy, if your car has all that kit on it, what are you for?

 

[KeefySher]

[
Its imprecise to judge an out fit based just on how it looks,but id agree its usually goods starting point.

On the M4 eastbound yesterday afternoon there was a filthy dirty, green algae covered Abbey caravan ahead of us.

It was doing 68mph (my new car has a radar system that adjusts it's speed to that of the vehicle in front if it is going slower than the preset speed limit I've set it at, in this case 70mph. I set this system for the recommended 2 second rule at 70mph, despite it's ability to stop my vehicle on it's own (Ive been learning this past 1100 miles in 2 weeks).
It was swaying all over lane 1, often onto the hard shoulder over the white line. My car has a system that keeps it in the middle of the lane using cameras and other sensors, so it wasn't me wandering to give the visual impression I was swaying!!.
It had the heiki large roof light fully open.
It had the TV aerial in the uppermost position pointed at the last used transmitter.

As we passed it, towed by a heavily laden and filthy dirty VW Passat saloon car that had stuff piled up above the windows in the rear seat area, that appeared on it's rear suspension stops, caravan nose down, cardown, driver smoking like a chimney, oblivious to anything around him with no extension mirrors.

My judgement was precise enough to know to get clear of that particular outfit, asap

Approx 2 miles later there was a caravan on the hard shoulder, with a distraught looking lady stood there viewing the trail of tyre bits and various caravan trims and bodywork parts strewn along lane 1. The tow vehicle, a big pick up truck type thing, dirty and no extension mirrors was down, with the remains of the caravan nose down.

Maybe these 2 were in convoy!!

Still it is the start of the silly season with a spell of warm weather, easter school holidays etc, why bother spending time and effort setting up properly when you get to a site first to baggy the best pitch??

Keefy, if your car has all that kit on it, what are you for?

To steer it

I've just returned from the first towing trip. The radar system makes towing much more relaxed.