An entry in our club newsletter has produced some howlers on trailer regulations that really need to be corrected.
The worst of these is (quoted)
"No vehicle is allowed to tow on the road any trailer who's gross weight is more than half of the towing vehicles un-laden weight."
This rule applies to unbraked trailers only, see the following:
"Speed limits for towing vehicles are as posted, except on motorways where the maximum is 60mph, no towing vehicle is allowed in the fast lane of a motorway"
Speed limits for commercial vehicles are NOT the same as for cars, and are 10mph LESS than the commercial vehicle limit for the road in use. Single carriageway:
50mph for vans (NOT car-derived vans) less 10mph = 40mph. Dual carriageways
60mph less 10mph = 50mph.
Towing vehicles are not allowed in the outside lane of a 3-lane or 4-lane motorway, but they are allowed in the outside lane of 2-lane motorways and where road works or obstructions cause the 3-lane or 4-lane motorways to be reduced to
2-lane.
There is also some incorrect information in the article about breakaway chains/cables and trailer weight.
I don't know where the contributor got his information from, but it is pretty much incorrect.
Peter
-- Peter & Rita Forbes Email: snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk Web: