HGV Driver shortage

[DontAsk]

OK, for certain trailers you may need to take a test.

Your original blanket statement "Anyone with a car licence gained after that point (which includes me as I only had a motorcycle until my son was born) had to do separate tests even to pull a trailer behind their car" is still incorrect without qualification.

 

[IanSuth]

OK, for certain trailers you may need to take a test.

Your original blanket statement "Anyone with a car licence gained after that point (which includes me as I only had a motorcycle until my son was born) had to do separate tests even to pull a trailer behind their car" is still incorrect without qualification.

No - the full official answer is

"Anyone with a car licence gained after that point (which includes me as I only had a motorcycle until my son was born) had to do separate tests even to pull a trailer behind their car (as present but not from November 15th) " but that is a bit cumbersoome

It is 100% true that is you have not taken some other form of driving test at this precise moment in time (and for the last over 20yrs) if you took your car test since 1997 you can not pull a trailer legally (including a caravan or trailer tent)

You find me ANYTHING that says a standard car licence holder who took their test post 1997 can pull a trailer this weekend without having taken an additional trailer test - if you don't have +E on your licence you cant do it

 

[DontAsk]

You find me ANYTHING that says a standard car licence holder who took their test post 1997 can pull a trailer this weekend without having taken an additional trailer test - if you don't have +E on your licence you cant do it

How about the government site linked earlier https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a-trailer-or-caravan-with-a-car-from-autumn-2021 ?

Scroll down to "What you’re currently allowed to tow" there are 3 sub-headings pre-1997, 1997 - 2013 and post 2013. In all cases you are allowed to pull a trailer.

See also https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories All Category B car licenses allow trailers of some form regardless of when you passed your test. CXategory BE has different rules and a different cut-off date.

 

[IanSuth]

How about the government site linked earlier https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a-trailer-or-caravan-with-a-car-from-autumn-2021 ?

Scroll down to "What you’re currently allowed to tow" there are 3 sub-headings pre-1997, 1997 - 2013 and post 2013. In all cases you are allowed to pull a trailer.

See also https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories All Category B car licenses allow trailers of some form regardless of when you passed your test. CXategory BE has different rules and a different cut-off date.

Sorry - I was wrong, but having been stopped with wife at the local tip where the plod was stopping everyone with a trailer for compliance and having been told by the PC "you are lucky your wife is driving as you would have been breaking the law" i assumed the PC knew the rules (the trailer we had was about 3' square and well under 750kg - even with a bunch of cut hedge in it)

However my point about labyrinthian driving licence class regs still stands as if a PC can get them wrong- what hope have others got

 

[DontAsk]

i assumed the PC knew the rules

LOL I was stopped once and told it was illegal to use rear fog lights in the rain (I switched them on due to really heavy spray on the motorway, and forgot). The highway code at the time stipulated use on visibility, not weather conditions. I didn't argue, but this was one who looked very much like a traffic plod who really should have known the rules.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

I once had a stand up argument with a policeman on a grass verge. He insisted I had committed an offence and I disputed that it was an offence. After a while he suggested that it might have been some time since I'd read the Highway code. When I said that it was the previous night testing my daughter before her driving test he collapsed slightly.