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Drove down to London and back this weekend without the van on the back for once. On the way we saw:

• One caravan stopped by police and being given the once over.
• One elderly caravan being towed at 60mph with one wheel pointing in quite a different direction to the rest of the outfit.
• Three caravans which passed us doing at least 75mph
• One serious snaking incident right in front of us. Outfit was doing 55mph, straight road, no-one in front of them.
• Four other unstable outfits swaying all over the road.
• More than a dozen huge double axle vans being towed by something ridiculously small  (not including the one being towed by a recovery truck with the small car backloaded).
• About a quarter of units with no towing mirrors - lost count after the first 10 minutes.

Otherwise we had quite a safe journey.

About a quarter of units with no towing mirrors - lost count after the first 10 minutes

1st of all I don't want this to sound like I'm having a go but Just out of interest why do people need towing mirrors because I for 1 don't use them. The reason I dont use them is because I don't need them. my car is a citroen c5 so it's a wide car anyway, plus the van I pull isnt that wide and if I still can't see the vehicle behind me doesn't that mean they are travelling to close to me. (sorry about the rant, I just dont like being put in a group lol) 

 I welcome the day roadside checks become more common , it has to happen and the sooner the better and as for these numpty's who insist on towing huge twin axles with grossly unsuitable and in many instances illegal tow cars they need nailed simple as that . ignorance is no excuse in the eyes of the law advice is free from all the main clubs

Neil

 currently on Dunnet Bay C.C site

Quote: Originally posted by r-kid on 04/5/2009

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About a quarter of units with no towing mirrors - lost count after the first 10 minutes

1st of all I don't want this to sound like I'm having a go but Just out of interest why do people need towing mirrors because I for 1 don't use them. The reason I dont use them is because I don't need them. my car is a citroen c5 so it's a wide car anyway, plus the van I pull isnt that wide and if I still can't see the vehicle behind me doesn't that mean they are travelling to close to me. (sorry about the rant, I just dont like being put in a group lol) 

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QUOTE I thought it had just been made law to HAVE to use towing mirrors in this country?? Maybe I dreamt it!!

If this is the case then I am sorry for my post.

QUOTE If you were to be checked the Police would stand at the back of your caravan and if they could not see your mirrors you would be commiting an offence

just out of interest how far do the police stand behind the van to check, because to be fair wouldn't It have to be the overall stopping distance at 60mph (240ft 73m) plus why don't the police do this to HGV's because their vision is just as restricted as a caravan.

Quote: Originally posted by yung on 04/5/2009

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I hope you were not driving at the same time.

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Yes half the time. It was a good job I was watching carefully what was going on otherwise I would not have seen one unstable caravan start snaking as I was about to overtake it on a dual carriageway and slowed up in time. Otherwise my family and I could all be now recovering in hospital or worse as it snaked across both lanes.