Hear about the 70 odd year old, done pushing £400 for 10 un-taxed minutes on the road.

When oh when will the police put as much effort into catching proper criminals?

About time they scraped road tax anyway. The only fair system is to tax actual usage of both raod and fuel? The more you use the more you pay.

Put road tax on fuel please Gordon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex Read more

There has been recent correspondence about towing trailers recently, particularly with regard to the new (1997) requirements to take a further test.

Ifor Williams have a really useful website not only detailing their products comprehensively, but also giving useful trailer related info.

Included is this bit about the regulations.........

There was a change on 1 January 1997 to the category of licence issued to a driver on passing the car driving test. Previously, categories B, B+E and C1+E were granted automatically, but Since that date it has become necessary for further tests to be passed. This does not apply to holders of licences issued before 1 January 1997, where "grandfather rights" apply. In other words, the additional categories are not removed. The exceptions to this are where a driver loses his licence as a result of a prosecution. In some circumstances the new licence will only give entitlement to Category B and test will have to be passed to gain the further entitlements.

The Category B licence is very restrictive for towing. The driver may not drive a vehicle with a maximum gross weight (Maximum Authorised Mass or MAM in EU terminology!!) of over 3500kg. Trailers up to 750kg MAM may be towed, and larger trailers provided that the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle AND the MAM of the trailer added to the MAM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 3500kg.

In practice, a towing vehicle meeting these weight criteria would tend to be too small to tow msot of our trailers legally as the manufacturer's
maximum towing weight would be exceeded. Therefore, there is no alternative for drivers with category B licences but to pass the additional test (B+E).
If you have a licence including category B+E you can tow any trailer up to 3500kg MAM provided that you don't exceed the towing vehicle's towing limit. Whereas in the above case it is the weight shown on the trailer plate that is taken into account (the potential maximum), in the case of a B+E licence it is what you are actually towing. In other words, if the trailer plate shows a figure higher than the car's maximum towing limit it is OK provided that you are actually towing a lower weight.

The BV85G box van trailer for instance has a maximum gross weight of 2584kg which would require a 4x4 to tow, but if you were carrying a light load it would be OK to tow it with a light car. The trailer itself weighs approximately 595kg and most medium sized cars can tow between 1200kg and 1600kg.

If you have a licence including category B+E you can tow any trailer up to 3500kg MAM provided that you don't exceed the towing vehicle's towing limit. Whereas in the above case it is the weight shown on the trailer plate that is taken into account (the potential maximum), in the case of a B+E licence it is what you are actually towing. In other words, if the trailer plate shows a figure higher than the car's maximum towing limit it is OK provided that you are actually towing a lower weight.

The BV85G for instance has a maximum gross weight of 2584kg which would require a 4x4 to tow, but if you were carrying a light load it would be OK to tow it with a light car. The trailer itself weighs approximately 595kg and most medium sized cars can tow between 1200kg and 1600kg.

KB. Read more

my ford galaxy 110tdi seems 2 have lost some of its go,have just had a 40000 service hopping this would help,ie new filters but no change,have been told that it could be the maff air flow sensor £150 but would have 2 go 2fords 2 b checked £80 can anybody help as i dont want 2 wast money just had another baby thanks stu Read more

Dear John

I wish to change my BMW 318i automatic for a new car which I hope to keep

for a number of years. My priorities are safety,comfort and of course

reliability with reasonably good performance. I prefer an automatic and I have

reduced my list to a choice between a Lexus IS200 and a VolvoS60 both 2 litre.

I would appreciate your opinion on which would be the best investment.

Many thanks

D.Chambers Read more

One does not have to be that old to remember the furore when:

a. Crash helmets became compulsory for motorcyclists.
b. Wearing of seat belts became compulsory.
c. Breathalyser & blood/urine tests to determine impaired driving were introduced.

Those arguing against these laws got a surprising amount of support and there were some unsuccessful legal challenges to their introduction. In retrospect I suspect most would concede that the protesters were wrong and these are sensible regulations that now have the support of the majority of the community.

IMHO one can draw a parallel in these cases to those who currently argue ?I should be allowed to use my discretion by how much I exceed the speed limit.? or those who feel that it is acceptable to use their mobile phones while driving.

I wonder how this will be viewed in 20 years time.

I personally feel that some speed limits are too low. This particularly applies to motorways; although the police generally do not bother those who keep under, say, 85mph. However it is one thing to campaign to get the speed limit or law changed, quite another to bleat if they are caught breaking that law. Even more reprehensible if they try to evade a law they understand perfectly well on a technicality.

C Read more