Does anyone have an opinion regarding moving a caravan on a public road when its dark without a vehicle attached ie by using a mover or by pushing - are caravan road lights required.
Street Manouvres
- Thread starter Afyfe
- Start date
Damian
Moderator
Depends what is being done with it at the time.
I am guessing it may have been left till late to allow traffic to ease off before manoeuvering into its normal storage place, or do you mean as in driving it down the road,,by mover or pushing?
In a well lit area, whilst the law states that marker lights should be displayed, not only for caravans but cars as well, this is never enforced as far as I know, as long as it is not causing a problem, and is facing the right way in relation to traffic flow.
Sense, however, would say that having lights will improve its visibility to other road users and should be used for safety if nothing else.
I am guessing it may have been left till late to allow traffic to ease off before manoeuvering into its normal storage place, or do you mean as in driving it down the road,,by mover or pushing?
In a well lit area, whilst the law states that marker lights should be displayed, not only for caravans but cars as well, this is never enforced as far as I know, as long as it is not causing a problem, and is facing the right way in relation to traffic flow.
Sense, however, would say that having lights will improve its visibility to other road users and should be used for safety if nothing else.
Hi Afyfe. My opinion,for what it is worth is that the lighting issue (car & caravan as a unit) is dependant on the street lighting situation, and linked to that the speed limit on the road in question. However, if the caravan is with it's rear facing the oncoming traffic,therefore reflectors are doing their job then I would not see it as an immediate problem,BUT in the manoeuvring of the caravan to the 90* position to the pavement/walkway,and assuming the objective is to shove it up your drive, then I believe that you would be wise to have two other people seconded to guard both sides with flash-lights, to warn off impending potential trouble.A caravan can be detached from a Tow-Vehicle provided it is suitably marked front & rear and secured from movement.
Above all else if the Caravan is not insured in it's own right that could be a whole new playing field.
My official line is to consult with your Local Council Highways Division and your Local Friendly Traffic Officer and talk to your insurers,after all they could be the ones that will put it To Bed,without any "Tooth Fairy Money" to follow.
Above all else if the Caravan is not insured in it's own right that could be a whole new playing field.
My official line is to consult with your Local Council Highways Division and your Local Friendly Traffic Officer and talk to your insurers,after all they could be the ones that will put it To Bed,without any "Tooth Fairy Money" to follow.
Hi,
OK, a detached caravan is not a motor vehicle. But neither is a bicycle, and that needs lights. So does a horse and cart (not sure about a horse under saddle). You also need lamps for a rubbish skip parked in the road, and that is not even a vehicle .... but maybe they come under seperate legislation.
Is a caravan fitted with a mover considered to be a motor vehicle? (Does Juniour need a driving licence to press the buttons? Does it need its own insurance?). If your mover is powered by an on-board battery, it would make sense to plug the trailer marker lamps into a socket on the drawbar, that you fitted specially for the occasion.
I would hate to defend myself in court on this one. I understand that ANY criminal offence can be endorsed on your licence.
602
OK, a detached caravan is not a motor vehicle. But neither is a bicycle, and that needs lights. So does a horse and cart (not sure about a horse under saddle). You also need lamps for a rubbish skip parked in the road, and that is not even a vehicle .... but maybe they come under seperate legislation.
Is a caravan fitted with a mover considered to be a motor vehicle? (Does Juniour need a driving licence to press the buttons? Does it need its own insurance?). If your mover is powered by an on-board battery, it would make sense to plug the trailer marker lamps into a socket on the drawbar, that you fitted specially for the occasion.
I would hate to defend myself in court on this one. I understand that ANY criminal offence can be endorsed on your licence.
602
Hi,
PS The law was changed sometime in the 1950s, to allow a car to be parked on the highway without lights. No more tying a parafin lamp to the door handle. The exceptions were - more than 25 yards from a street lamp - and bus routes. I don't think lorries were allowed to park without lights. Not sure about near a corner.
I wuz there!
602
PS The law was changed sometime in the 1950s, to allow a car to be parked on the highway without lights. No more tying a parafin lamp to the door handle. The exceptions were - more than 25 yards from a street lamp - and bus routes. I don't think lorries were allowed to park without lights. Not sure about near a corner.
I wuz there!
602
If you need to do this regularly, fit a 12N socket (or 13 pin) to the front of your van below the gas locker. Supply with power via fuse, to o/side and n/side lighting pins and earth return. (I also power, via switches, indicators, brake and fog lights, so I can test them easily). When detached from towcar, plug in and your van will look like the Queen Mary steaming down Southampton Water)
I'm just guessing here but presumabley you are positioning the caravan off the street onto its parking pad on your garden.
If the area is lit by street lights but still has passsing traffic, you should wear hi viz vests and carry torches as a minimum. If you feel the need you could use white and red led cycle lights. These can quite easily be fitted to front/rear of the van and most have a flashing facility which might be usefull.
You might even consider using a front mounted tow ball on your car to speed up the parking of the caravan.
Basically what you will have to do is make a clear plan of what your doing and make safety a paramount importance.
I regularly had to manouver our 20ft twin axle van with a hitch mounted motormover and even travelling at 1/2 a mile per hour, I could park our van off the street in under 10 mins. I got the wife to stand guard with a torch to flag down any approaching traffic. In fact she would ask the driver to endulge us and stop in the road and put his hazard flashers on. People do sometimes help especially if it speeds up your manouver.
Atb Steve L.
If the area is lit by street lights but still has passsing traffic, you should wear hi viz vests and carry torches as a minimum. If you feel the need you could use white and red led cycle lights. These can quite easily be fitted to front/rear of the van and most have a flashing facility which might be usefull.
You might even consider using a front mounted tow ball on your car to speed up the parking of the caravan.
Basically what you will have to do is make a clear plan of what your doing and make safety a paramount importance.
I regularly had to manouver our 20ft twin axle van with a hitch mounted motormover and even travelling at 1/2 a mile per hour, I could park our van off the street in under 10 mins. I got the wife to stand guard with a torch to flag down any approaching traffic. In fact she would ask the driver to endulge us and stop in the road and put his hazard flashers on. People do sometimes help especially if it speeds up your manouver.
Atb Steve L.
I tend not to ask people to help after acepting an offer of help to push my van they didnt use the grab rails and pushed the van by the panel causing it too crack ,learnt my lesson.
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