Take the extra time to ensure your caravan or motorhome is 100% secure before hitting the road this bank holiday weekend. The DVSA have announced that they are putting into action 'on-the-spot' checks of motorists towing caravans and trailers as the rising popularity in UK 'staycations' has seen many new and inexperienced users taking to the road with their newly acquired leisure vehicles.
With good weather finally heading our way this bank holiday and in the excitement of getting away, it's easy to overlook details, particularly as for many this may be their first outing in some time following Covid restrictions.
The DVSA announced, "records show that around one in six caravans have a serious safety problem, while nearly two in five small trailers stopped at the roadside and checked showed dangerous issues."
Follow our guidelines on how to hitch your vehicle - whether you're caravanning for the first time, or you're finally hitting the road again after lockdown - double check our list to make sure your vehicle is safe and secure!
We want to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip and experience the freedom of owning a leisure vehicle without any major hiccups.
Failure to secure your leisure vehicles correctly can result in an serious accident and fines of over £1000.
Please note; these are simplified checklist and are not exhaustive of all checks that could/should be carried out before travelling. We recommend taking a look at the Caravan and Camping club's website for more information on caravan and towing safety: https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/technicalhelp/pre-journey-checklists/
Check out this video by Bailey of Bristol who have provided an insightful look at weight distribution when towing.
You can also view the DVSA's full article on the safety checks that they will be making this May Bank Holiday here.
