Highways Agency issues advice for towing vehicles

Motorists should be extra careful when towing a caravan, boat or horse box this summer, the Highways Agency has warned.The agency has said that incidents involving towed vehicles can cause disproportionately long delays for other road users as well as distress for their drivers and those directly involved.The causes of towing incidents include overloading the caravan or trailer, a mismatch with the towing vehicle, tyres which have burst because they have not been checked or replaced with sufficient frequency and poor towing technique from drivers, such as excessive speed.Highways Agency director of traffic management, Simon Sheldon-Wilson, said: “Highways Agency Traffic Officers and our contractors are out on the motorway network day-in-day out and see at first hand how incidents involving caravans and other towed vehicles can contribute to delays for other road users.“While the majority of towed vehicles travel safely, recent incidents provide a timely reminder to anyone towing a trailer, boat, caravan or horse box this summer to prepare before they set out and take a few simple steps once they are out on the road to avoid becoming involved in an incident. So check your tyres, make sure that caravans and trailers are not overloaded and drive carefully and considerately at this busy time of year in the holiday season.”At this time of year there is a significant increase in the number of caravans and other towed vehicles on the road network. In the south east, the M3, the A303 and the M27 experience a particularly high density of towed vehicles.In Sussex, larger than usual numbers of horseboxes are using the A23 and other routes near Hickstead this week as showjumping at the Royal International Horse Show takes place.The Highways Agency already works closely with organisations like the police, The Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club to raise awareness of safer towing, understanding the legal speed limit, proper insurance and the importance of breakdown recovery and what to do in an emergency.“Towing has a very good overall safety record,” explained Martin Spencer, technical manager for The Caravan Club.  “When details of untoward incidents are reported to us, however, it is clear that in the overwhelming majority of cases, paying attention to a few simple guidelines would have prevented the incident occurring, allowing the driver and other road users to have had an uneventful journey.”Iain Geddes, The Camping and Caravanning Club’s senior technical advisor, said: “People choosing to tow must remember the importance of forward planning. Allow plenty of time to perform the recommended safety checks on your unit and plan your route before you leave. Also consider travelling in quieter periods where possible to provide a more relaxed and pleasurable towing experience.”Advice from the Highways Agency includes:• Carrying out a final maintenance check before setting off.• Being aware that driving with a loaded trailer will inevitably affect thevehicle's performance.• Checking that the vehicle and trailer are loaded securely and weight iscorrectly distributed in accordance with the manufacturers' specifications.• Making sure you are adequately covered for recovery and breakdown.• Taking extra care when reversing.

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