Whatever kind of trailer you’re towing, Safe T Signs mean Safe Towing! Be seen and be safe when you emerge from junctions or roundabouts, and when you are towing in the dark.
At Safe Towing we're acutely aware of the need for safe driving practices, and making sure drivers are conscious of the need to be considerate to all other road users. We believe Safe T-Signs help, alongside drivers' attitudes to being safe on the road and not taking unnecessary risks.
Buy Safe T Signs from our website here: http://www.safetowing.co.uk/buy-now.htm
At Safe Towing we're acutely aware of the need for safe driving practices, and making sure drivers are conscious of the need to be considerate to all other road users. We believe Safe T-Signs help, alongside drivers' attitudes to being safe on the road and not taking unnecessary risks.
While I’ve been working on Safe T-Sign I’ve read a great deal of guidance on towing (readers, let me know if list is lacking in anything essential).
This week I’m sharing a rapid appraisal of the best of what’s out there!
This week I’m sharing a rapid appraisal of the best of what’s out there!
The most comprehensive guidance is Roadcraft: Towing: The Essential Towing Handbook. I regard this as the towing bible. It largely covers how you drive when you’re towing.
It's written by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). It begins by talking about driving attitudes:
“… the bedrock of safe towing is your attitude to risk, safety and the 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”. (page 1).
"Research evidence shows that attitudes affect towing safety … it depends on … making a personal commitment to changing unsafe attitudes.…These qualities depend on: …
· A good level of concentration
· Accurate observation ….
· Awareness of the 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
· Skillful use of vehicle controls and towing technique
· Attitudes that contribute to road safety
It is not simply the speed of your reactions that determines whether you are safe but your ability to identify and respond to hazards…." (page 2)
It makes the crucial point that you shouldn’t second guess what other drivers have seen – roads can be very busy places.
"Anticipating the actions of other road users is critical for safety. Never assume that other road users have either seen you or are going to react according to the Highway Code. Watch other drivers’ general progress and road behaviour to get some idea of what sort of driver they are. But always be aware that even the most conscientious of drivers can make mistakes." (page 89)
I recommend The Essential Towing Handbook to anyone who tows and anyone who is serious about safe towing and road safety.
I couldn’t miss Hitched, by the Highways Agency
Hitched is an excellent and comprehensive guide to ensuring that your trailer is fit for purpose, that you understand the technicalities and practicalities of setting yourself up to tow safely and to maintain your trailer. It’s designed to be a constant companion in your tow car and will serve you well.
It has a real focus on ensuring that your trailer is road-worthy and was a part of the Highway’s Agency’s Fit to Tow” campaign which was particularly aimed at reducing the inconvenience caused by towing accidents, particularly on the motorways – lane closures, delays, traffic disruption. As well as informative general articles, there are dedicated sections focussing on utility trailers, caravans, livestock trailers and large trailers for heavy loads.
The NTTA’s Guide to Safe and Legal Towing is also very good.
The presentation could be improved, but it's a comprehensive guide, well written and thorough. It covers technical aspects of hitching up, good preparation and it has very sound advice on driving while towing.
Very comprehensive and aimed at a wide range of towers. The diagrams are very helpful.
I’ve been really impressed by the guidance from the Amateur Rowing Association and the British Rowing Organisation, Trailer Towing and Trailer Driving Guidance
The guidance is comprehensive, pitched at a good level so that it both covers the ground and makes people think about how they approach towing. For me the rowing organisations have stood out in producing succinct, focussed guidance that really hits their target organisations.
Other guidance which I think is very helpful and targeted at particular audiences are:
Specifically aimed at caravanners, and a very comprehensive guide for all caravanners on:
- safely matching cars to caravans
- selecting the ratio of caravan weight to car weight for safe towing
- things to take into account before towing a caravan
- good driving techniques
I like it – plenty of pictures, concise, easy to understand and really targeted at its audience.
The Camping and Caravan Club’s Guide, Safe for the Road
This is comprehensive, but perhaps a bit less accessible than the other guidance. I particularly like the bullets at the end which cover “Be considerate to other road users” – don’t ever underestimate the value of courteous attitudes and behaviours.
This is a quite specialist guide for horsebox and trailer owners. It covers some of the more technical issues around carrying goods and livestock, roadworthiness and the special requirements associated with horseboxes and licensing. It's a good overview for people who are moving into horsebox and trailer territory.
Lastly, I found this helpful – it’s from the US, so excuse some of the terminology, but an accessible way of understanding some of the issues associated with towing.
What guidance have readers found useful?
I'd be interested to hear what guidance readers have found helpful and why. We also think Safe T-Signs are an important part of the Safe Towing agenda - help other drivers know that you're towing, that there's more to you than meets the eye!
Safe T-Signs
Safe T-Signs are important because they can be seen, even when trailers can't. They can make a positive impact on driver behaviours out and about and driving on the road – where it matters.
Safe T-Sign is about positively promoting good driving behaviour, by:
- Enabling other drivers to better see when a vehicle is towing so that they are able to respond appropriately and considerately
- Raising awareness in the drivers of towing outfits about the need to drive considerately and defensively.
See our website:
Whatever kind of trailer you’re towing, Safe T Signs mean Safe Towing! Be seen and be safe when you emerge from junctions or roundabouts, and when you are towing in the dark.
Safe Towing is about safe driving practices, as well as making sure that drivers are alert to the need to drive with consideration towards all other road users. Alongside using the technical and driving advice from the best of the guidance to help you prepare to tow safely, Safe T-Sign should be part of your routine before you set off to tow, to help you and other road users to be safe.
http://www.safetowing.co.uk/index.htm
Safe Towing - Promoting
Safe Towing for all road users and the use of Safe T-Signs
Safe T-Sign: ® Community Design
Registration 817085-002
Follow
Safe Towing on Twitter and Facebook
Buy Safe T Signs from our website here: http://www.safetowing.co.uk/buy-now.htm
