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AMBER VALLEY HORSEWATCH |
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Derbyshire Constabulary Reports
National Websites detailing Horse related incidents
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DRIVING TEST REGULATIONS SINCE JANUARY 1997 Introduced in January 1997, there is now a complicated formula that determines whether or not you can tow any type of trailer without taking a supplementary driving test.
If you passed your test before 1st January 1997 carry on regardless. You can drive a car/trailer combination up to a conditional 8.25 tonnes MAM (subject to other technical aspects of towing law). If you passed your test after January 1997,or are about to take it, read the small print on your licence because your driving entitlement is based upon the combined MAM of the vehicle and trailer and the ratio of the trailer weight to the vehicle weight. For the purposes of calculating the maximum recommended trailer weight for safe towing and Type Approval purposes the formula uses the MAM of both the vehicle (for an explanation see right). But for the purposes of deciding the driving licence entitlement, the formula uses the MAM of the trailer and the unladen weight of the vehicle in one half of a two-part equation and the MAM of both in the other half. And the MAM, remember, is the maximum authorised mass determined by the trailer manufacturer and applicable under the Road Traffic Act even if the trailer is empty. New drivers can still drive a car and trailer with a MAM up to 4.25 tonnes provided that the trailer MAM does not exceed 750 kilograms (unlikely). On the other hand, larger (braked trailers, can be towed provided that the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle and that the MAM of the two together add up to no more than 3.5 tonnes. The fact that an unladen vehicle, as defined by the Road Traffic Act, will not even start, let alone tow anything results in a law that is defeated by its own logic. What you need therefore, to be able to drive any typical car/trailer combination is a B+E licence which means you first have to pass the solo 'B' test then take the test again to get the 'E' bit. But you cannot apply for the B+E until you are actually in physical possession of the B licence which then becomes a provisional B+E to allow for tuition (the instructor must have held the appropriate car plus trailer licence for at least 3 years). You can't get round it by using a smaller car to keep the combined MAM under 2500 kilograms because the trailer will weight a lot more than the car's unladen weight which, apart from being dangerous, will also fall foul of the new laws. Once you have passed you will be able to drive category B vehicles up to 3500 kilograms MAM with trailers of no specified upper limit, regardless of the ratio of vehicle/trailer weights, but not forgetting, of course, the manufacturers' recommended towing weights and the new Type approvals both of which will have a bearing on any insurance claim that ariss from an incident that occurs when you are towing. All sounds a bit confusing: The information line for the Driving Standards Authority (who regulate driving tests) is 0115 955 7643 and the DVLA (who issue the licences) can be reached on 01792 772151. |