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[Diamond Black Geezer]

Miss DBG had cause to perform an emergency stop today, as the van and trailer ahead of her suddenly parted company. The thing wasn't attached properly. She opens the window as bloke walks over to the trailer asks "are you alright?" to which she gets a fairly nasty "yeh, why woulnd't I be?"  'well, because your trailer just very nearly caused an accident' would be the answer.
The thing was clearly overloaded, the bloke has zero concept or remorse for what had transpired. As my Missus is still sat there with hazards on, as this mess is cleared up what's going the other way?...

...a PANDA CAR! Which promptly spins round, and ask Miss DBG what's happening. She relays the tale, of a poorly secured load, overloaded trailer, the need for an emergency stop - clocks her uniform (nurse) and learns that had there been an accident that's a written off car, not to mention a dozen elderly and vunerable people which wouldn't be seen today in the community (potential for missed medication/early warning signs of underlying health issues etc missed and so on) and the guy's attitude was also noted. Mr Plod took a dim view of this, and went for a nice wee chat with the van driver...

Not often we see a bit of justice in the universe, but ruddy nice when it does happen! 

[Lizzie Zoom]

A good result and hopefully the police officers "chat" included checking the guys licence, MOT, insurance, and the state of repair or not of his van along with trailer.

The result of that would be interesting to know as someone with such contempt for safety so often is breaking other road traffic laws

[dave the builder]

surprising trailers and caravans don't part company with the tower more often
I see loads with no brake away cable, smashed up lights,no reg plate or a half arsed homemade bodge .
I don't tow often ,but when I do, I make sure everything is safe
likewise ,securing a load on a roofrack etc

I was thinking the other day ,how much debris is on the roads now 

[STEMO]

surprising trailers and caravans don't part company with the tower more often
I see loads with no brake away cable, smashed up lights,no reg plate or a half arsed homemade bodge .
I don't tow often ,but when I do, I make sure everything is safe
likewise ,securing a load on a roofrack etc

I was thinking the other day ,how much debris is on the roads now 

That's the stuff that's dropped off omegas.

[dave the builder]

surprising trailers and caravans don't part company with the tower more often
I see loads with no brake away cable, smashed up lights,no reg plate or a half arsed homemade bodge .
I don't tow often ,but when I do, I make sure everything is safe
likewise ,securing a load on a roofrack etc

I was thinking the other day ,how much debris is on the roads now 

That's the stuff that's dropped off omegas.

 
I wish it was
I could top up my spare parts collection 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

surprising trailers and caravans don't part company with the tower more often
I see loads with no brake away cable, smashed up lights,no reg plate or a half arsed homemade bodge .
I don't tow often ,but when I do, I make sure everything is safe
likewise ,securing a load on a roofrack etc

I was thinking the other day ,how much debris is on the roads now 

That's the stuff that's dropped off omegas.

 
I wish it was
I could top up my spare parts collection 

BAh! Got there before me! 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

A good result and hopefully the police officers "chat" included checking the guys licence, MOT, insurance, and the state of repair or not of his van along with trailer.

The result of that would be interesting to know as someone with such contempt for safety so often is breaking other road traffic laws

It just makes it worth it for all those times you see the guy overtaking on a B road toward a lorry with 1 second to spare, the transit with lengths of jagged metal hanging over the back inches from every car it passes, the black BMW with four 'gentlemen' inside and no numberplates doing 50 in a 20.... nice result 

One of those moments also you're glad you keep your motor in good legal (if not good cosmetic) condition, I know no copper could find fault with her tyre depth, tax, etc. 

[scimmy_man]

Local police like to sit outside the tip, lots of unsafe trailers, and drivers who are not allowed to tow.
shooting fish in a barrel one said.

[Andy B]

....,
and drivers who are not allowed to tow. ....

no such thing  .... however some drivers are not allowed to use certain vehicles to to tow certain trailers 

[scimmy_man]

they pulled a youngish bloke with an Arstra towing a box trailer bigger than the car, it was full of rubble,
the car and trailer was still there an hour later when I went back.
I know about the 750kg limit, and max gross of whatever,

[Kevin Wood]

they pulled a youngish bloke with an Arstra towing a box trailer bigger than the car, it was full of rubble,
the car and trailer was still there an hour later when I went back.
I know about the 750kg limit, and max gross of whatever,

That'd do it.

It's a stupid rule because all the younger glider pilots I know choose really light cars to tow their trailers so they're safely within the 3.5t train weight limit. In what way is that any better than getting the biggest, ugliest 4x4 you can lay your hands on for the job? 

[Andy B]

......
I know about the 750kg limit, and .....

The only 750kg limit I know of is of an unbrakex trailer.....

[Doctor Gollum]

......
I know about the 750kg limit, and .....

The only 750kg limit I know of is of an unbrakex trailer.....

Any heavier and you need trailer entitlement on your licence... Although you can tow a heavier trailer provided you don't exceed 3,500 kg max.

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car

Buying a light car instead of taking the extra test is a bit retarded, as from a personal view, towing safely with an appropriate vehicle must surely be better than running the risk of issues whilst towing

I appreciate that a glider trailer isn't going to be particularly heavy, the Trolley could probably tow one, but there is a fair amount of leverage on something that length...

[Rangie]

Always extra cautious when towing , my rule is check & check again seen some horrendous accidents involving trailers/caravans , problem is some folk have no idea how to load them & even less how to manoeuvre & drive when towing.

[Nick W]

Always extra cautious when towing , my rule is check & check again seen some horrendous accidents involving trailers/caravans , problem is some folk have no idea how to load them & even less how to manoeuvre & drive when towing.

the same folk also don't know/care that trailers need occasional maintenance. They're the ones you see with wrecked tyres that have shredded the caravan side, have shed a wheel and flipped while still attached to the car or that have become unhitched. It's even easier to overload a small cheap trailer than a van, and the consequences are worse.


Having to take a test to tow was necessary, but the weight limit was a bad idea: it should have been to tow any trailer.