Driving without a licence?
14 June 2007, 05:14 PM
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Driving without a licence?
Our temporary driver at work has got himself into a spot of bother...
He doesn't have a towing licence - just a normal driving licence. However last Friday he was instructed to deliver a large trailer. On the way he was overtaken by a lorry, which unsettled the trailer and resulted in him losing control of the towing vehicle. The trailer ended up in a ditch with the bottom ripped out. The towing vehicle (which was on hire to our company) was written off (We have a £6k estimate for the damage).
Just wondered if anyone has any idea what the likely outcome will be for the driver.
He doesn't have a towing licence - just a normal driving licence. However last Friday he was instructed to deliver a large trailer. On the way he was overtaken by a lorry, which unsettled the trailer and resulted in him losing control of the towing vehicle. The trailer ended up in a ditch with the bottom ripped out. The towing vehicle (which was on hire to our company) was written off (We have a £6k estimate for the damage).
Just wondered if anyone has any idea what the likely outcome will be for the driver.
14 June 2007, 05:18 PM
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IMHO and with some experience.
If he does not have a towing licence then
He is not insured to tow the trailer.
His dirivng licence does not cover him to tow the trailer either.
Likely your insurance will not cover the damage to the tow vehicle, nor will the hire co's so someone will need to pay for that + the trailer will not be insured.
The driver is likely to get a fine and points.
The company may be prosecuted by the HSE for not checking that the driver as qualified to do the job we was asked to do.
Good job no-one was hurt!
If he does not have a towing licence then
He is not insured to tow the trailer.
His dirivng licence does not cover him to tow the trailer either.
Likely your insurance will not cover the damage to the tow vehicle, nor will the hire co's so someone will need to pay for that + the trailer will not be insured.
The driver is likely to get a fine and points.
The company may be prosecuted by the HSE for not checking that the driver as qualified to do the job we was asked to do.
Good job no-one was hurt!
Last edited by The Zohan; 14 June 2007 at 05:21 PM.
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14 June 2007, 08:54 PM
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i looked up about trailers before and i think anyone with a standard uk car licence can tow upto 750kg? This is more if you took your test before a certain date (1997 or something?)
14 June 2007, 09:07 PM
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just had a look on dvla -
'Motor vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3500kg having not more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. Combinations of towing vehicles in category B and a trailer, where the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle'
'Motor vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3500kg having not more than 8 passenger seats with a trailer up to 750kg. Combinations of towing vehicles in category B and a trailer, where the MAM of the combination does not exceed 3500kg and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle'
14 June 2007, 09:59 PM
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I think the DVLA should do more to publicise this IMHO. It was only a year ago I found out that I could not tow a trailer as I passed in 97. I’ve towed rally cars, caravans, driven tractors.... ooops Got to sort out my test at some point £80 seems a tad pricey.
15 June 2007, 09:23 PM
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15 June 2007, 09:32 PM
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Think they dropped the "towing" prt off the licence when they brought in the theory tests.
I can do pretty much anything I need to on my licence, as I passed just before the theory came in. However a mate of mine how passed after me and to take a seperate test to drive an ambulance (cos of its weight). Where as I can tow with a 7.5t truck.
I can do pretty much anything I need to on my licence, as I passed just before the theory came in. However a mate of mine how passed after me and to take a seperate test to drive an ambulance (cos of its weight). Where as I can tow with a 7.5t truck.
16 June 2007, 08:33 AM
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16 June 2007, 08:56 AM
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rules here Towing trailers or caravans with vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes : Directgov - Motoring
looks like 3/4 ton max trailer size
richie
looks like 3/4 ton max trailer size
richie
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