special licence for towing a caravan?

rowdy · Veteran Member

special licence for towing a caravan?

Rolly · Guru

I think that, if it was administered efficiently, a separate test and endorsement of one's MVDL would be beneficial.

To drive various categories of trucks etc. requires this.

There have been some quite nasty incidents invoving cars with trailer caravans in recent times.
Besides that, the conduct of some caravan haulers is very questionable when it comes to courtesy and obedience to the road rules.

I would have every licensed motor vehicle driver undergo compulsory re-training and testing every 5 years at least, considering the number of road incidents that occur as a consequence of poor driver attude, ignorance of the road rules and/or lack of concentration on the task at hand.

jimbo · Guru

Watching A C A tonight I think speed camera's should be looked at more than anything...Did any one see that the State Governments are goint to put hundreds more in and around the country. Even a QLD copper said it was Revenue gathering.....

brickies · Guru

Haven't we got enough big brother already why do you want more all these ideas good for governments it a way of collecting more revenue

Ma · Guru

And it's all down to US paying through the nose again.

howdrink · Senior Member

sorry guys i agree there sould be a licence for towing caravan's after being on the road
since April and seen some of the things that SOME people are like on the road, and talking to a lot of caravaner's out there totaly agree, we were talking to a couple last week that have never towed anything bigger than a 6x4 trailer now have got there new 3 tone van and said he has white knuckles driving it and will not stay in a park unless some one helps him reverse in. a few of us around him sujested that he went on one of those courses,
It would not hurt any of us to be licenced, if you drive any vehicle bigger than a car or 4X4
you have to have another licence for it,
lets put saftey first out on the roads

stan747 · Veteran Member

totally agree. How many vans have been lost on downhill sections of road because of lack of knowledge. Prolonged braking causes brake fade or total loss of brakes, the resulting high speed causes the inevitable. A short course would teach drivers this and many other important aspects of towing a caravan. Just one life saved would be worth the small cost and make our roads a little safer.

brickies · Guru

They don,t need a special license just a safety course when taking delivery of a caravan to make sure the tug is set up right to tow the van and all hitches and bake system are suitable , I have a queensland HR license and was pleased that when I took delivery of my caravan the dealer slowly took me through the operational working of the tug and caravan and special license wont do that just prove you can pull a van but how do you know you rig is safe license don,t cover that , how many license car drivers can reverse park most can do it to get their license but never do it again does that make them a bad driver soon well have a license to sh-t

Onedodger · Guru

brickies wrote:

They don,t need a special license just a safety course when taking delivery of a caravan to make sure the tug is set up right to tow the van and all hitches and bake system are suitable , I have a queensland HR license and was pleased that when I took delivery of my caravan the dealer slowly took me through the operational working of the tug and caravan and special license wont do that just prove you can pull a van but how do you know you rig is safe license don,t cover that , how many license car drivers can reverse park most can do it to get their license but never do it again does that make them a bad driver soon well have a license to sh-t

Up until last year I was a 4wd instructor and I agree totally with the above.
EG. The many P platers that have accidents yet they have passed a more stringent road test than most of us did when we got our Licenses.
I have instructed hundreds of 4wd drivers over the years and while most do the right thing you will still get those that do a driving course because they have to then go and drive as they want anyway.
What I would like to see is newbies given the option of a caravan course that they can decide to complete on their own violition.
Any mandatory course would see Govts and private companies only interested in making a buck from them.
EG. The RTA tells us that each child that is injured in a 40k zone costs the comunity more than $100k in the court cases and medical injury trauma etc.
YET flashing lights at 40k zones are rare and are ever so slow to be erected.
It is much more profitable to collect speeding fines for junkets than protecting children the simple way.

Now off my high horse and beg your understanding.

milo · Guru

most of you know my story of my father, 87 and still driving, but I'll never get in a car
with him driving again... or in his motorhome.. I too think anything bigger than a 4x4 should have a special license , and I think this should be for any aged driver, young and old..