Car & Trailer (B+E)

Car & Trailer (B+E)

Would you like to be able to tow a trailer and Safely?

We are able to provide training for Caravan, Horsebox and Trailer including: Towing / Reversing Training, Trailer Uncouple / Re-Couple and controlled stop.

If you passed your car driving test on or after 1 January 1997, you may now need to pass a separate test (licence category B+E) to tow a trailer or caravan weighing over 750kg MAM, and where the MAM of the combination of towing vehicles in category B and trailer exceeds 3500kg.

MAM: Is the Maximum Authorised Mass (weight) also known as the gross vehicle weight. It is the weight of the trailer plus the weight of the maximum permitted payload.

Safe Towing

Safe towing relies on your attitude to risk, safety, and your need for hazard awareness. If you drive without regard to the safety of yourself and other road users you put lives and property at risk.

Research shows that attitudes affect towing safety, but developing appropriate attitudes is not easy. There is a great need to recognise that attitudes are important and you will have to make a personal commitment to changing unsafe attitudes. These notes will contain the term `outfit driver', this is used for the combined vehicle and trailer, which is also called a combination.

A Good Outfit Driver?

Drivers who are good at towing are aware, responsive, calm and efficient. Qualities that depend on:

• a good level of concentration
• accurate observation matching the outfit`s speed and direction to the situation
• awareness of risks inherent in particular road and traffic situations
• acting to keep identified risks to a minimum
• awareness of their own limitations and those of the outfit and the road
• skilful use of vehicle controls and towing techniques
• attitudes that contribute to road safety.

It is not only the speed of your reactions that determines whether you are safe but your ability to identify and respond to hazards.

Learning Safe Towing Skills

Training accelerates your learning, enabling you to develop skills that you might otherwise never possess.

Category B+E: Car and Trailer Test

Cars presented for test must be a Category B vehicle towing a suitably braked, unladen trailer of at least 1 tonne Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM). The examiner may ask for evidence of the trailer MAM, e.g. manufacturer's plate. All vehicle combinations must operate on brakes and utilize a coupling arrangement suitable for the weight.

B+E in the case of a vehicle first used on or after the 1 October 2003 the following additional standards will apply:

The cargo compartment of the trailer must consist of a closed box body which is at least as wide and as high as the towing vehicle; the closed body may also be slightly less wide than the towing vehicle provide that the view to the rear is only possible by use of the external rear-view mirrors of the towing vehicle.

From 1 April 2006, vehicles used for vehicle and trailer combination test will need to be fitted with outside, nearside and offside mirrors for the use by the driving examiner during the test.

The Towing Test

The Test Centre has an off-road manoeuvring area where you will carry out a reverse manoeuvre, a trailer uncoupling / re-coupling exercise and a controlled stop. The examiner will ask questions on vehicle and load safety. You will be expected to drive to a high standard.

DSA Safety questions for car and trailer drivers.

Example one

• Q1. Open the bonnet, identify where the brake fluid reservoir is and tell me how you would check that you have a safe level of hydraulic brake fluid.
  Identify reservoir, check level against high/low markings.
• Q2. Show me how you would check that the direction indicators are working.
  Apply the indicators or hazard warning switch and check the functioning of all indicators.
• Q3. Tell me the main safety factors involved in loading this vehicle.
  The load should be distributed evenly throughout the trailer. Heavy items should be loaded as low as possible so that they are mainly over the axle(s).
  Bulkier, lighter items should be distributed to give a suitable 'nose weight' at the towing coupling. The nose weight should never exceed the vehicle manufacturer's specifications.
• Q4. Tell me the main safety factors involved in securing a load on this vehicle.
  Any load must be carried so that it does not endanger other road users. It must be securely stowed within the size and weight limits for the vehicle. The load needs to be secure so that it cannot move or fall from the vehicle when cornering or braking.
• Q5. Show me how you would check that your vehicle and trailer doors are secure.
  Physical checks should be made to ensure that windows, roof light and all doors, including cargo doors, are properly closed.

Example two

• Q1. Tell me how you would check the tyres to ensure that they have sufficient tread depth and that their general condition is safe to use on the road.
  No cuts and bulges, 1.6 millmetres of tread depth across the central three quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire outer circumference.
• Q2. Show me how you would check that the horn is working (off road only).
  Check is carried out by using the control (turn on ignition if necessary).
• Q3. Tell me the main safety factors involved in loading this vehicle.
  The load should be distributed evenly throughout the trailer. Heavy items should be loaded as low as possible so that they are mainly over the axle(s).
  Bulkier, lighter items should be distributed to give a suitable 'nose weight' at the towing coupling. The nose weight should never exceed the vehicle manufacturer's specifications.
• Q4. Tell me the main safety factors involved in securing a load on this vehicle.
  Any load must be carried so that it does not endanger other road users. It must be securely stowed within the size and weight limits for the vehicle. The load needs to be secure so that it cannot move or fall from the vehicle when cornering or braking.
• Q5. Show me how you would check that your vehicle & trailer doors are secure.
  Physical checks should be made to ensure that windows, roof light and all doors, including cargo doors, are properly closed.

• Q1. Open the bonnet, identify where you would check the engine coolant level and tell me how you would check that the engine has the correct level.
  Identify high/low level markings on header tank where fitted or radiator filler cap, and describe how to top up to correct level.
• Q2. Show me how you would check the parking brake for excessive wear.
  Demonstrate by applying parking brake that when it is fully applied it secures itself, and is not at the end of the working travel.
• Q3. Tell me the main safety factors involved in loading this vehicle.
  The load should be distributed evenly throughout the trailer. Heavy items should be loaded as low as possible so that they are mainly over the axles. Bulkier, lighter items should be distributed to give a suitable 'nose weight' at the towing coupling. The nose weight should never exceed the vehicle manufacturer's specifications.
• Q4. Tell me the main safety factors involved in securing a load on this vehicle.
  Any load must be carried so that it does not endanger other road users. It must be securely stowed within the size and weight limits for the vehicle. The load needs to be secure so that it cannot move or fall from the vehicle when cornering or braking.
• Q5. Show me how you would check that your vehicle & trailer doors are secure.
  Physical checks should be made to ensure that windows, roof light and all doors, including cargo doors, are properly closed.