RV FEATURE
Should caravanners require a licence to tow ?
This question has made the rounds for years . An old fella – a very experienced caravanner I once knew – was in favour of a special ‘ caravan towing endorsement ’ that would be applied to your driver ’ s licence , in much the same way as recreational boat operators require an endorsement to use a personal watercraft , such as a jet ski .
But would a requirement to be licensed to tow a caravan simply add a layer of red tape that we could all do without , or would there be a genuine benefit to such a regime ?
The argument goes like this . As licensed motorists , we are all required to pass a driving test as well as some form of written test . But towing a caravan is a whole different ball game . A caravan impedes rearward vision , and it is subject to sway in adverse conditions or for a host of other reasons . And let ’ s not forget that it requires the driver to be even more vigilant at the wheel , always considering the ‘ behaviour ’ and position of the van on the road .
Did you know you are allowed to use this sign when the combined length of your vehicle and van is 7.5m or more ?
There are also certain laws that caravanners must follow , as well as laws they can take advantage of . For example , if the tow vehicle and caravan combo are greater than 7.5m in length , the driver is entitled to use a ‘ Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle ’ sign . But do you know how to properly use this sign when in traffic ? Would you have the confidence to do so ?
Some states also have laws that apply to caravanners only . Did you know that in Western Australia , for example , when towing a trailer / caravan the maximum speed at which you can travel is 100km / h ? Further , on roads outside of a builtup area that do not have more than one lane in your direction of travel , you can ’ t follow closer than 200m to the vehicle in front of you , unless you are overtaking .
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