Motor movers and the law?

[toad a caravan]

I was thinking how the law stands with using motor movers on the highway

 

[RogerL]

I was thinking how the law stands with using motor movers on the highway

Since UK caravans don't have a unique registration identity, I don't see how they could enforce any technical infringement.

 

[Dustydog]

Not sure🤔

A lot of us use the MM to place the caravan on our drives from the road.

My CAMC insurance gives me £5 million TP property/ bodily injury cover arising from the use of the caravan when detached from the car .

Realistically if you breakdown I really can’t see the authorities prosecuting if you use the mover to clear the caravan off the highway.

A bit warm this morning to trawl through the latest Road Traffic Act😎

Maybe our Mr Plodd can help.

 

[birdman101]

🤫. or this Government will want to tax them as EVs

 

[Lutz]

On what basis would there be any reason to question the use of a motor mover? It’s only used to manoeuvre the caravan, not to take part in traffic movement.

 

[toad a caravan]

Does it not become a. Electric propelled vehicle?,, electric scooters are under scrutiny at present hence the Question

 

[Lutz]

I think “propelled“ means that the purpose of the electric motor is its use as a prime mover. It’s no different, for instance, to skinny spare wheels or using a dolly to tow a broken down vehicle. Basically they are both illegal but they are tolerated for use in an emergency.
How would the authorities expect one to move the caravan off the road if it’s too heavy to be moved by hand?

 

[toad a caravan]

With all respect ignorance of the law isn't a reason,in thinking it's okay doesn't hold water hence my original question 🙂

 

[Beachball]

Not sure but like someone else for emergency use only to move the caravan

 

[Lutz]

As far as I know there is no law to cover the application of motor movers, just as the use of A-frames behind a motorhome is a very grey area not covered by any law.

 

[toad a caravan]

I have never used a dolly to move to remove a vehicle that's not been attached to a towing vehicle, hence the insurance would apply to both vehicle and trailer🙂

 

[Jcloughie]

I imagine that, like scooters. You need to stay below 15.5 mph. 🤓

John

 

[Lutz]

I have never used a dolly to move to remove a vehicle that's not been attached to a towing vehicle, hence the insurance would apply to both vehicle and trailer🙂

Whether the combination is covered by insurance is a completely different issue. It’s still illegal to use a dolly to tow a vehicle and it’s only tolerated for emergency use to get a broken down vehicle to the nearest place where it can be repaired.

 

[Buckman]

Only time there may be an objection is if you use the motor mover to take the caravan to a nearby pub so that you can have a few drinks and go to sleep in it afterwards. 🤣 🤣 🤣

 

[toad a caravan]

Or bump into another vehicle

 

[Lutz]

Or bump into another vehicle

That’s a straightforward case of damage to third party property. It’s no different to a runaway caravan bumping into another vehicle after being unhitched because one has forgotten to apply the handbrake. There’s no need to have a specific law to cover something like that.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I imagine that, like scooters. You need to stay below 15.5 mph. 🤓

John

Although you may have made the post in jest, there is an argument that as the top speed driven by the mover does not exceed 4 mph, it might be a class ed like a class 2 mobility scooter which does not exceed 4mph and may be used on pavements and to cross roads.

 

[Lutz]

It’s all very speculative because there is no reference to motor movers in any law, so it would be up to a court to pass judgment on a case-by-case basis if the need arose.

 

[otherclive]

Clearly the heat is getting to people to even think a discussion on the law and motor movers is worthwhile. If you are bothered get someone to help you to push it.

 

[Lutz]

Clearly the heat is getting to people to even think a discussion on the law and motor movers is worthwhile. If you are bothered get someone to help you to push it.

Which then raises the question what the legal position is if a caravan is moved by hand on a public road. What rights do the manhandlers have to be on the road without any traffic safety provisions? If a car hits someone manoeuvring a caravan on the road, who is to blame? The driver of the car or the person in the middle of the road pushing the caravan?

 

[otherclive]

Which then raises the question what the legal position is if a caravan is moved by hand on a public road. What rights do the manhandlers have to be on the road?

Probably the same rights that you have when pushing a broken down car, or existing on the offside.

 

[Mr Plodd]

I have never even considered it, and certainly cannot think of any circumstance where it might be an issue!
Hire companies deliver and collect mini excavators, mini dumper trucks etc all the time, and no one has ever questioned the legality of them being moved from a site onto a trailer and vice-versa!

 

[Lutz]

Probably the same rights that you have when pushing a broken down car, or existing on the offside.

One still has to make sure that traffic isn’t endangered in any way.

 

[otherclive]

One still has to make sure that traffic isn’t endangered in any way.

Would that require a full risk assessment by a competent person?

Of course one would need to address the surroundings etc just like pushing a grocery trolley in Waitrose car park, but that's something humans have done day in day out for aeons. Occasionally incidents happen but that's life.

 

[Buckman]

A few posts were made in jest and suddenly a poster has turned it into a serious issue? I think they need to get out more. LOL! 🤣 🤣 🤣