Car and trailer driving tests.

[nuttinnew]

I can't remember who this applied to on here (@integrale_evo ? ), but soon you won't have to worry.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-f ... utumn-2021

[mik]

Sent that to my eldest today.

Wassnt it @Mito Man ?

Although I am not sure the relaxation of the HGV test is a good thing. Jeremy Vine will have a field day.

[Mito Man]

Not me - I was tempted though. I do remember someone talking about it on here though.
I make use of the exemption if you have an older passenger which allows it. Ironically my dad has never towed a trailer and the one time I asked him to help with a small one he flipped it over and drove back over it

[nuttinnew]

Although I am not sure the relaxation of the HGV test is a good thing.

Inexperienced people driving HGVs, what could possibly go wrong?

https://news.sky.com/story/hgv-driving- ... s-12404161

[Nefarious]

This seems exactly thew wrong way round - remove the grandfather rights and make everyone take a trailer test!

I fancy myself as a reasonably competent driver, but I'll freely admit that even I think allowing me just hook up a few tonnes of trailer or to drive a 7.5 tonne truck with a 750kg trailer is insanity.

My first experience of driving something "big" with a trailer was about 15 years ago working on the property stuff in London. I've never driven anything bigger than a regular transit before, and had to go down to hastings, on my own in a LWB Sprinter (which is fucking massive compared to a transit) to collect a conveyor on a trailer - tonne and a half and over 3m long. Just about OK on the motorway, but coming through the back streets of south London was fucking terrifying.

Oh yeah, and the time I first towed the race trailer with the Jag and nearly killed both Scott and I when I tried to accelerate out of a 70mph snake. I now know that it doesn't work. You just end up doing 120mph with an even more violent snake. Some basic training beyond listening to Jeremy Clarkson might've helped avoid that situation.

[integrale_evo]

I can't remember who this applied to on here (@integrale_evo ? ), but soon you won't have to worry.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-f ... utumn-2021

Yep, I was always disappointed my Mrs would be able to pull a car on a trailer but I wouldn’t, not that I have anywhere to put one and I’d end up broke from all the scrap I’d drag home, but nice to know the option is there if I ever needed it

[Sundayjumper]

…but nice to know the option is there if I ever needed it

If you ever need it, you’re welcome to borrow my trailer

[Mito Man]

Sadly/annoyingly I think most of the regular EU lorry drivers haven’t bothered to return for work here. Pre-brexit we would get lorry drivers on B roads all over Kent as usual but they would drive impressively quickly, over 50 usually on the tight roads and knew the danger spots and where to slow down.
It’s definitely much worse now with the new bunch, they can’t go more than 30 mph on anything other than a dual carriageway. Feels like they’ve always got a 1/3 of their lorry across the white lines into the oncoming lane. One clipped my trailer which was fine as I managed to just get the metal wheel arch back into place. My dad has the same but with his pickup truck half of one side needs repainting.

[nuttinnew]

…but nice to know the option is there if I ever needed it

If you ever need it, you’re welcome to borrow my trailer

Temptation and trouble that way lie...

[16vCento]

It was me!

Woohoo, free motorbike test!

[Sundayjumper]

…but nice to know the option is there if I ever needed it

If you ever need it, you’re welcome to borrow my trailer

Temptation and trouble that way lie...

That is the plan

[V8Granite]

You don’t need a test, all they need is a half day mandatory training where you learn about the basics. Nose weight, how to strap things down like cars and equipment, what inspections are needed for the trailer and what vehicles are suitable.

Dave!

[16vCento]

I was amazed by yesterday cost of basically a half day course to show you what the test would compromise, then the test itself and hire of a suitable outfit it was about 500 quid, to pass a test for something I've already been doing for the last 10 years because my current car is heavier than my last one.

It was a stupid rule, I think there should be an offer of a CBT type thing where people can go, pay a hundred quid, go through the basics of the rules, get shown how to safely hitch up, how to reverse, and job done.

[16vCento]

Or what @V8Granite said.

[jamcg]

I was amazed by yesterday cost of basically a half day course to show you what the test would compromise, then the test itself and hire of a suitable outfit it was about 500 quid, to pass a test for something I've already been doing for the last 10 years because my current car is heavier than my last one.

It was a stupid rule, I think there should be an offer of a CBT type thing where people can go, pay a hundred quid, go through the basics of the rules, get shown how to safely hitch up, how to reverse, and job done.

I drive a van for work. It’s a propper van. It carries heavy stuff.

Now our scout group has a minibus. It’s no bigger than my van, it’s no heavier than my van, but because it’s got seats in it I can’t drive it and it’ll cost £700-£1200 to go do training and to pass a test to get cat d1 on my license to essentially do what I do daily

[nuttinnew]

If you ever need it, you’re welcome to borrow my trailer

Temptation and trouble that way lie...

That is the plan

[Sundayjumper]

You don’t need a test, all they need is a half day mandatory training where you learn about the basics. Nose weight, how to strap things down like cars and equipment, what inspections are needed for the trailer and what vehicles are suitable.

And speed limits.

But yeah - domestic level towing isn't rocket science, it just needs some awareness of what's going on.

[Delphi]

Because I'm old, I've always had the trailer entitlement on my licence (along with driving anything up to and including a 7.5 tonner). Didn't even realise there ever was a separate test, tbh.

[jamcg]

Because I'm old, I've always had the trailer entitlement on my licence (along with driving anything up to and including a 7.5 tonner). Didn't even realise there ever was a separate test, tbh.

As I said above, you can drive a minibus with no training and no experience of driving anything bigger than a smart car. Experience counts for nothing.