In an attempt to alleviate the ongoing HGV driver shortage in the UK, the DVSA is said to be considering scrapping the current requirement for motorists to take an additional test for towing heavy loads. As things stand, anyone passing their standard driving test after 1st January 1997 is only able to drive vehicles with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of 3,500kg and a trailer up to 750kg MAM.

Those passing their test before this date have Grandfather Rights, allowing them to drive car and trailer combinations up to 8,250 kg MAM. The move – if it comes to pass – will see these rights extend to all motorists, eliminating the need for almost 30,000 trailer tests and relieving the significant pressure currently on HGV driver examiners. However, some say this raises ‘major safety concerns’.

6 in 10 Caravans Have Serious Safety Issues

IAM Roadsmart – the trading name of the Institute of Advanced Motorists – has expressed concern about this potential move, suggesting that an existing road safety situation would almost certainly be exacerbated. The situation mentioned refers to the Driver & Vehicle Safety Agency (DVSA) discovery that 6 out of every 10 caravans stopped on the UK’s roads have serious safety issues.

The scrapping of the tests would represent a lowering of the current standards, potentially making the problem worse. It is felt that standards and awareness of road safety should be increased, not relaxed and that it will ultimately result in more accidents occurring, especially as the number of people caravanning has risen much over recent years as an alternative to holidays abroad.

4 In 10 Small Trailers Also Had Major Safety Problems

Director of Policy & Research at IAM Roadsmart had this to say about the potential move. “We are very concerned the decision will exacerbate an existing safety situation as currently, as per DVSA’s own safety checks, up to one in six caravans they stopped had a serious safety issue, while four in 10 small trailers were also found with serious safety issues”.

He continued “Many of these problems could have been avoided by better training and awareness of towing safety best practice. The DSA had a clear safety reason for introducing the test in 1997, and these reasons are still valid. People need proper training to be able to drive an articulated vehicle, particularly when they are doing so for the first time.”

The Battle Against the HGV Driver Shortage Continues

There’s a continuing battle being waged by the government and organisations within the logistics sector to alleviate the ongoing HGV driver shortage. At HGVC, we’re contributing to the overall effort by providing both small and large-scale licence acquisition programs to companies across the UK. Our expertise in this field allows us to provide a fully managed service that takes all the stress out of the process.

If you’d like to know more about us and how we do things, click on ‘contact us’ and drop us a message. Alternatively, to talk to a member of our team about your business’s training needs, simply give us a call on 0330 818 8888.