WIREDGOV

• Brush up driving skills
• Research new technology
• Service before use

The Driving Standards Agency and The Caravan Club have joined forces to advise British motorists returning to caravanning to brush up on their driving and towing skills before taking to the roads this summer. 

The credit crunch is encouraging holiday makers to return to caravanning as a more cost effective alternative to their usual summer breaks. Figures released by The Caravan Club indicate bookings are up 40% this year.

“Anyone who has not towed a caravan for a number of years should make sure they are familiar with any changes that may have taken place before they get in the driver’s seat. Handling, manoeuvring and vision is different for a driver when towing,” said DSA’s Chief Driving Examiner Trevor Wedge.

The Caravan Club offers both caravan and motorhome training courses for drivers who want to brush up on their skills before they set off on holiday. They are welcoming new members and people returning to the activity but recommend – along with DSA – that  some things need to be checked:

• If you passed your test before 1997, you will be allowed to drive any car, and tow any caravan (weighing up to a combined maximum allowable mass of 8250kg). But for drivers who passed their test after January 1997 there are additional restrictions and they may need to take a further driving test in order to tow the largest car/caravan outfits.
• Caravans have tended to become heavier over the years. Make sure your car and caravan are an appropriate match or your combination could be unsafe or even illegal.
• Make sure you are familiar with new technology features, such as stability control systems.
• Check your car/caravan electrical connector and find an adaptor if the connectors are not the same at each end.

For further information, please contact:
Chris Lee, DSA Press Office
Caravan Club: www.caravanclub.co.uk and www.discovertouring.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is one of the Executive Agencies that forms the Motoring and Freight Services group, within the Department for Transport.

2. DSA’s vision is “Safe Driving for Life” with an overall mission to contribute towards a Government target of achieving a 40% reduction in riders and drivers killed or seriously injured in road accidents, in the age group up to 24 years, by 2010.

3. Current information on road casualties is available from the Department for Transport website: www.dft.gov.uk

4.  Further information about towing caravans is available on: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_4022564

5. The Caravan Club is Europe’s premier touring organisation representing the interest of one million caravanners, motor caravanners and trailer tenters.

6. The Club operates the largest privately owned network of quality sites in the UK

7. Visit www.caravanclub.co.uk and www.discovertouring.co.uk for further caravanning details