Message Forums

caravans cannot be left alone on the road,only if they are attached to a car thats fit for the road. unless its a private road then im unsure.

mike

Quote: Originally posted by mikecandsarhab on 27/1/2010

---

caravans cannot be left alone on the road,only if they are attached to a car thats fit for the road. unless its a private road then im unsure.

mike

---

sometimes there left alone as either police/council dont care and have more important things or knowones bothered by them so theve not been reported.

i would expect the police or council would just ask/tell you to move it.and wouldnt fine or arrest you,

i personally would like mine on the road as it just wouldnt feel safe sat there even with locka and clamps.

mike

may help

Parking
Do not park your caravan:
 • where it may cause an obstruction
 • at night on a road without lights
 • in street parking bays as some local laws forbid this
 • at a parking meter, as caravans are not permitted
 • unless securely braked or chocked to prevent movement

No way would i leave mine on the road, just in case of a dopey driver decides to hit it.

I think it does become a pedestrian controlled vehicle.  Not sure what else it could be.  I don't think there are any licence problems, but insurance is surely a difficulty.

Most caravans are insured separately for damage caused to them.  However, the "road" risks are usually carried by your car's insurance.  In the same way a caravan cannot be left on the road without being connected to a car, I think there may well be problems if you are "driving" the caravan without the protection of your car's insurance.

In the event of a collision, for example, with a passing car, I could well imagine that when you were unable to produce insurance details, the police would be quite interested.

I may be wrong, and I suspect that it would take a test case to find out.

I would never unhitch my caravn on the public road and, even if I had a motor mover, I would use it on site only.

No doubt we'll hear other opinions shortly.

Jim

Surely the common sense view should be to consider this as 2 different situations -

1. Caravans stored on a public road which will contravene parking bylaws and probably invalidate insurance.

2 Caravans temporarily parked on a public road, whilst hitching and loading etc. which is surely perfectly acceptable.

Jeepster, how can it be a trailer?  Trailers aren't powered, and it is capable of being driven.  I know it's unlikely, but in the event that you happened to trap a pedestrian against your gatepost, or break his leg, I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't have any insurance.

For those old enough to remember, there was a case involving a milkman in Blackburn who couldn't pass the eyesight test for a licence to drive his electric milk float.  It was the kind you pull behind you, assisted by an electric motor.

It was smaller than a caravan, and didn't go any faster.  I don't see where the difference is. I also remember it didn't attract road tax, but had to have a number plate.

I would certainly like to hear the DVLA's point of view.  It seems like they still issue group K with the latest licences, so there shouldn't be a licence issue, but I'm pretty confident you would need to insure it separately for driving it.

Jim

You may find this interesting.  That was all about something weighing 8cwt or, as we might say these days, 407Kg.

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1963/may/29/pedestrian-controlled-vehicles

I am sure you need insurance to do this.  Interesting point about the lighting regulations too.  I wonder what the Caravan Club has to say.  I don't know whether I'm right or wrong, but it could be a big problem.

Jim

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/legal/index.html

www.ntta.co.uk/law/

may help