Van Driver Toolkit – Safe Towing
Did you know? Towing with a van could:
- Mean you need different driving licence categories.
- Require use of EU drivers’ hours rules and tachographs (although there may be exemptions you can use).
- Overload the towing vehicle beyond its legal and / or physical capabilities.
- Evenly distribute the weight of the load in the trailer.
- Make sure any load in your trailer is properly secured.
- The trailer being towed must display the same number plate as the van.
- Ensure the nose weight of the trailer is within the manufacturers recommendations of the towing vehicle.
- If the trailer starts to swerve, slow down gently.
- There is a towing speed limit of 60mph on motorways and 50mph on single carriageway roads.
- If the trailer is wider than the van, then towing mirrors will need to be fitted.
- Driving licence categories.
- The capability of the towing trailer.
- The weight capacity of the trailer.
- The brakes on the trailer.
- Gross weight of towing vehicle and size of trailer.
Provider: Driving for Better Business, National Highways
Resource Type: Web link