Get hitched, without a b+e test

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Sun 12 Sep 2021 12:12
Get hitched, without a b+e test - Metropolis.
www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a-trailer...1

I know many will likely trumpet the health and safety implications. Personally I do not think drivers passing their tests on or after 1st January 1997 were any less capable of towing than those passing prior to that date and it was an unnecessary hindrance. Some motoring freedom going in the right direction for once! The caravan industry was likely going to implode with time as well.
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Sun 12 Sep 2021 15:05
Get hitched, without a b+e test - Bromptonaut

Mrs B and I both passed our tests in the seventies so have Grandfather rights to B+E. In fact our outfit, a Berlingo and an Explore 304 with a combined plated weight of 1350kg just creep under the 3,500kg limit; our kids who passed this century could drive it.

Judging by what I see on caravan sites there are an awful lot of overladen 'vans out there and plenty more with ill distributed loads. The vast majority of drivers are over 60 and will have automatic rights to 3,500kg plus.

Two questions I cannot see answers to:

  1. Presumably heavier vehicles and trailers (above 3500kg) will fall within C1/C1E for which I retain grandfather rights but younger drivers will need an additional test.
  2. Will UK B+E for youngsters be accepted in the EU?
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Sun 12 Sep 2021 15:45
Get hitched, without a b+e test - Metropolis.

Although I am answering this without researching it, I would think if the EU currently accept the UK's "grandfather" B+E rights, I would be surprised if they won't accept the new younger drivers as well. Also, I am not sure how they would be able to tell, since the license would just say B+E unless they decide to request test certificates. Additionally I don't think it will be possible to get tested for it, although I gather the government are recommending people still attend towing courses.

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Sun 12 Sep 2021 22:52
Get hitched, without a b+e test - Ian_SW

From speaking to people who've done the B+E test, I'm not sure it was achieving much in the may of increasing competence anyway. Apparently there is very little asked about how to correctly load it, secure loads, driving dynamics etc. Other than being able to competently reverse the trailer, apparently the main challenge was to return to the "driving test" style of driving needed to pass after 10-15 years of driving.

This might benefit me, as I missed the 'Grandfather Rights' by only a few months. I do regularly tow light trailers, but haven't had the need to move anything bigger regularly enough to bother with the B+E test - I just ask my wife to drive on those occasions as she did her driving test six months before me!

What I'm not sure how it will result in many more lorry drivers on the roads though - it was a fairly niche test so can't have taken up that much time of driving examiners. Perhaps the government is expecting Eddie Stobart to get a fleet of LWB transits with big trailers to do the deliveries to Tesco!!

If they really wanted to get more people driving lorries. To achieve that, it would have made more sense to re-instate the automatic C1E entitlement you got before 1996. Then someone with just a "car" licence could move the best part of 10 tonnes of goods on a 7.5T truck with a trailer. I can see why did didn't do that though - you really must wonder why it was ever possible to do a driving test in a Fiat 500 and get a licence to drive such a large vehicle!!

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Thu 16 Sep 2021 19:35
Get hitched, without a b+e test - blindspot

From speaking to people who've done the B+E test, I'm not sure it was achieving much in the may of increasing competence anyway. Apparently there is very little asked about how to correctly load it, secure loads, driving dynamics etc. Other than being able to competently reverse the trailer, apparently the main challenge was to return to the "driving test" style of driving needed to pass after 10-15 years of driving.

This might benefit me, as I missed the 'Grandfather Rights' by only a few months. I do regularly tow light trailers, but haven't had the need to move anything bigger regularly enough to bother with the B+E test - I just ask my wife to drive on those occasions as she did her driving test six months before me!

What I'm not sure how it will result in many more lorry drivers on the roads though - it was a fairly niche test so can't have taken up that much time of driving examiners. Perhaps the government is expecting Eddie Stobart to get a fleet of LWB transits with big trailers to do the deliveries to Tesco!!

If they really wanted to get more people driving lorries. To achieve that, it would have made more sense to re-instate the automatic C1E entitlement you got before 1996. Then someone with just a "car" licence could move the best part of 10 tonnes of goods on a 7.5T truck with a trailer. I can see why did didn't do that though - you really must wonder why it was ever possible to do a driving test in a Fiat 500 and get a licence to drive such a large vehicle!!

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Thu 16 Sep 2021 19:38
Get hitched, without a b+e test - blindspot

you should be ok to tow now .put on the L plates and have wife as supervisor

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