Speed limits:

• You must always adhere to the legal speed limit for the road on which you are driving.

Speed limits for cars towing trailers and caravans:

• 30mph speed limit is applicable on all roads that have street lighting, unless signs indicate otherwise.

• 50mph speed limit is applicable on single carriageways unless signs indicate otherwise.

•  60mph speed limits are applicable on duel carriageways and motorways.

Remember: If you are driving a vehicle that is towing a trailer you must not drive in the outside lane of the motorway.

• You must always drive at a speed that is acceptable and safe according to the road and weather conditions that occur, and well within your capabilities.

•  If the trailer starts to swerve or snake due to a wrongly positioned load or too fast driving gradually ease off of the accelerator and gently reduce your speed.

• Do not take any harsh action such as sharp braking as this may cause a jack knife to occur.

• Always reduce your speed prior to a bend and select the appropriate gear for the speed at which you are traveling.

How to reverse with a trailer Get out of your vehicle prior to reversing and make sure that the area to your rear is clear from obstruction before attempting any manoeuvre. Be especially aware of children and pedestrians; if possible get somebody to observe while you perform a manoeuvre. It is advisable to practice reversing with a trailer as with a little perseverance it is a skill that can be mastered.

Trailer Checks before each journey

The driver of the towing vehicle, or the trailer operator, holds the responsibility for the safe operation of the trailer and therefore needs to carry out the following checks before each journey:

Is the actual gross weight that is being towed within the towing vehicle manufacturer's recommended maximum towing limit? This applies to both a braked or un-braked situation.

   Is the load within the trailer's official payload? - i.e. Make sure it is not overloaded.

If the trailer is laden is the load correctly and evenly distributed i.e. Not too much or too little nose weight?

Have you correctly secured the load?

Are all the lights working correctly and undamaged?

Is the correct number plate fitted? This applies to both registration number and style.

Are all tyres free from cuts, bulges and with adequate tread and are the tyre pressures correct? These checks also apply to the spare tyre. Tyres must have a continuous tread depth of at least 1.60 mm on cars, light vans and trailers, across the centre three-quarters of the width (1mm for other vehicles)

Are the wheel nuts and bolts tightened to the correct torque?

If required are the mudguards in satisfactory condition and securely fitted?

Is the trailer correctly coupled to the towball or pin?

Is the coupling height correct? i.e. Not excessively nose up or nose down.

Is the breakaway cable or secondary coupling undamaged and correctly connected, to a suitable point on the tow bar or towing vehicle?

Is the jockey wheel and any corner steadies or prop stands fully wound up secure?

Always follow these rules when towing:

Make sure that the nose weight is between 50 and 100kg unless the trailer is very light.

Make sure the tyre pressures are correct.

Make sure the trailer is level when coupled to the towing vehicle

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 SI 1990 No 842 classifies vehicles according to either:

• "Maximum authorised mass" (permitted maximum weight). Vehicles over 3,500kg MAM are classified as Large Goods Vehicles. Vehicles having more than 8 seats (not including the drivers) are classified as Passenger Carrying Vehicles.
  
  
• Requires additional qualifications for people to drive Large Goods Vehicles and Passenger Carrying Vehicles.
  
  
• Vehicle Categories
  
  The main non - LGV (unified) licence categories are:
  
  
• Category A: Motor cycles (with or without a sidecar), including tricycles and mopeds
  
  
  
• Category B: Motor vehicles with:
  
  
• A maximum authorised mass (MAM) not over 3,500kg
  
• A maximum of 8 seats (not including the driver's seat)
  
  Trailers being towed by vehicles in this category must either:
  
  
• Not be more than 750kg MAM - making a maximum authorised Train Weight of 4,250kg
  
• Have a MAM which does not: have a train weight exceeding 3,500kg
  
• Have a MAM which does not: exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. Drivers of vehicles that fit into this category wanting to tow trailers which do not comply with either of the above conditions must have a B + E entitlement.