How long in time or distance is your tow per day?

[Beachball]

Beachball
Here is a link to a specialist company that fit adaption aids. Within it there is a link to Motability who may fund such changes. But obviously much will depend on the nature and permanency of your leg condition. Hopefully it can be made to clear up. But having you wife driving the auto is still a sensible move.

Frequently asked questions | Mobility in Motion

www.mobilityinmotion.com

I am hoping to keep this car and then might be looking having hand controls fitted in the new car . but it depends if my wife can cope but thanks for adaption aids (i have already had help when we had the winch fitted and a car steering wheel aid )

 

[Dustydog]

Please can we move away from saying things that are not the Law.

Beachball, imo you must be guided by your doctor. If you go direct to the DVLA the person you speak to will be reading a script and have no knowledge of your personal circumstances. You may well end up being told you can’t drive when your doctor will say otherwise.

As for the rest this is what the RAC say. Other venerable bodies say the same. Please no more panic!

Can you smoke or eat while driving and other driving myths answered | RAC Drive

Is it illegal to drive with headphones on? Are you allowed to drive 10 percent over the speed limit? Is it illegal to drink, smoke or eat while driving?

www.rac.co.uk

 

[otherclive]

Please can we move away from saying things that are not the Law.

Beachball, imo you must be guided by your doctor. If you go direct to the DVLA the person you speak to will be reading a script and have no knowledge of your personal circumstances. You may well end up being told you can’t drive when your doctor will say otherwise.

As for the rest this is what the RAC say. Other venerable bodies say the same. Please no more panic!

Can you smoke or eat while driving and other driving myths answered | RAC Drive

Is it illegal to drive with headphones on? Are you allowed to drive 10 percent over the speed limit? Is it illegal to drink, smoke or eat while driving?

www.rac.co.uk

Your first sentence has lost me. What has BB done that is without the Law?

 

[Buckman]

Generally DVLA do not give advice on driving aids, but it is a requirement for the driver to inform DVLA if a vehicle has been adapted to incorporate a driving aid. Also the nature of the disability must be disclosed. Motability are the go to organisation especially if it concerns a Motability vehicle.

I was not referring to driving aids at all, but rather to BB's condition and whether it is safe to drive or not. Not on effect could be insurance?

 

[Dustydog]

Your first sentence has lost me. What has BB done that is without the Law?

Clive , you have posted a number of “Law” orientated posts.

 

[otherclive]

Clive , you have posted a number of “Law” orientated posts.

If my post #9 has annoyed you I took explicit care to say “ deemed illegal”. Your RAC link also mentions that whilst it’s not illegal to eat or drink whilst driving it could be considered an offence. Wrt BB and his possible interest in adapting his car its a fact that DVLA require to be informed.
As far as driving hours are concerned research at Institute of Transport Studies at Leeds University strongly indicates rest stops should be taken every two hours to counter fatigue. This is supported by ROSPA, Brake, Researchgate and others. What do IAM say on the topic?

 

[GaryB]

We live in the Midlands and don’t take the caravan abroad so six hours sees us in Scotland or Cornwall. We usually have a break every 2 or 3 hours.

 

[Brasso530]

As some of the posts say, driving several hours on a French motorway is very different to driving several hours on say the M6. It’s so much easier/less stressful/enjoyable driving on the continent.

 

[RogerL]

We’ve done some weird tows the last four weeks . More later . Just wondered what restrictions or targets others set 😉

I have no issue towing 475 miles in 9 hours, plus breaks, on our way up to the Highlands - not really a limit as it depends on the location of a late arrival site.

Solo I have done 900 miles in 18 hours, including breaks, on a Dunnet Head & John O'Groats > Land's End & Lizard Point drive. I've also done 1,000 miles in 24 hours as driver in a National Three Peaks event.

Individuals limits are probably down to how comfortable their car is towing, and how comfortable the driver is - I'm fortunate in that respect.

 

[RogerL]

If my post #9 has annoyed you I took explicit care to say “ deemed illegal”. Your RAC link also mentions that whilst it’s not illegal to eat or drink whilst driving it could be considered an offence. Wrt BB and his possible interest in adapting his car its a fact that DVLA require to be informed.
As far as driving hours are concerned research at Institute of Transport Studies at Leeds University strongly indicates rest stops should be taken every two hours to counter fatigue. This is supported by ROSPA, Brake, Researchgate and others. What do IAM say on the topic?

Earlier this year I drove 900 miles in 18 hours, including 3 hours in breaks - taken every 2 - 2.25 hours of driving.

Truck drivers are required to take breaks every 4.5 hours, but they're used to doing that every day - I've always divided that by 2 and found that workable.

I would add that the pressures of work and life in general considerably increase the risks of driving while tired.

 

[Hutch]

As some of the posts say, driving several hours on a French motorway is very different to driving several hours on say the M6. It’s so much easier/less stressful/enjoyable driving on the continent.

Try the Paris Perifery, on a Friday afternoon going from the south to the North, That certainly was not a relaxed drive with my van on the back.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I consider myself extremely lucky as my wife is an extremely competent driver and is quite happy to share the towing.
Takes a lot of the pressure off knowing she can take over as and when.

 

[Bluetonic]

For a weekend away we like to keep it to an hour, maybe 90 mins at a push. For longer holidays 5 or 6 hours is the norm, although one year the M5 was a total nightmare, far worse than it's usual nightmare and it took us 9 hours to reach our North Devon destination from Leicestershire.
Luckily my wife tows the caravan too, so we can share the driving. I usually get the windy roads bit

 

[CustardAvenger]

With the caravan on, I prefer to have a comfort break every 1.5 - 2hrs or so, and don't like to spend more than 4-6 hours a day towing. Although I enjoy it, I find it can be more taxing than driving solo.

However, on a tour of Scotland a few years ago I ended up towing for much longer than I would want to again. We were in Grantown-on-Spey, site 4 out of a planned 5, when I started to feel ill. As the only one licenced to tow the caravan before the BE change I decided that we would leave the site and go home, instead of the planned 3 nights in Berwick-upon-Tweed, in case I became too sick to tow. The 450miles back to the Midlands took us over 12 hours and it was 1am when we got home. I was beyond tired, coming down with something, the weather was horrible, and we had to take numerous diversions as motorways started closing for maintenance during our journey. In the end I would have been fine to spend 3 days in Berwick as planned, and would have had a shorter final leg.

 

[carper2]

We are getting on a bit with medical restrictions. The most we do in a day in the UK or Europe is 200 miles which is 4 hours.. But then again the travelling is part of the holiday.

 

[KeithnKris]

We’ve done some weird tows the last four weeks . More later . Just wondered what restrictions or targets others set 😉

We are in Australia and generally tow about 3-4 hours then start looking for camp site.

 

[Tobes]

Towing - 2 to 2.5 hours max, then a 20 or so min break, minimum. Up to three legs a day. So around the 250 to 300 mile mark. Then thats enough.

 

[Buckman]

Towing - 2 to 2.5 hours max, then a 20 or so min break, minimum. Up to three legs a day. So around the 250 to 300 mile mark. Then thats enough.

Does that include waiting in a queue to Is that while recharging the EV? Nice long coffee break though.

 

[Hutch]

Does that include waiting in a queue to Is that while recharging the EV? Nice long coffee break though.

Naughty boy. Don't go there.

 

[otherclive]

Naughty boy. Don't go there.

I posted thus a year ago, but did not mention that as Hopwood Park services caters for both northbound and southbound directions not only were there queues for the loos, but at the fuel pumps too 🙈

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[Tobes]

Does that include waiting in a queue to Is that while recharging the EV? Nice long coffee break though.

Odd - just did a 520 mile round trip to the lakes. Didn't see any charger queues, or wait for a charger. Just took our time and enjoyed the journey.

 

[davyayr]

540 miles in 11 hrs. A couple or three 10 min stops, but thats it.

 

[Dustydog]

Thanks for all the posts. Good to see many are still doing long hauls towing including I see a rank outsider EV😜.
The road from Gairloch to Lockerbie is a real mixture of single track passing places and the relaxation of the M74. After 6 hours and nearly 320 miles the achtung warning came up on the dash 50 miles fuel left. Pitched up,at Hoddom Castle and a 5 mile drive to Tesco Annan replenished the tanks . Frankly that was it , we were both knackered . Bed early and off again next day for 310 miles mostly M74 ,M 6 ,M5.
Will we do it again ?No. Whilst we love touring we have decided to spend at least one week in each place if not longer. Northumberland , say Berwick on Tweed will be our future maximum . But that trip will be split with a fre days at the kids near Harrogate on an excellent CL.
We are now investigating new CLs and CSs in the South West and Midlands areas for next year.
3-4 hours is about right I think to still feel good at the end even after setting up.

 

[Devonisheaven]

Just for info for those traveling with an EV, with or without a caravan, to Cornwall on the A38, there is a good EV charging station off the Dartbridge junction, Buckfast. Loads of bays, including car and trailer bays and a decent farm shop/cafe.

Fortunately for those traveling to Cornwall, you HAVE to travel through Devon, that will be the highlight of your holiday. 😁👍

 

[JTQ]

Fortunately for those traveling to Cornwall, you HAVE to travel through Devon, that will be the highlight of your holiday. 😁👍

I like that one, though the forum name already hints that way.
We do tend to agree.