Car drivers will soon be able to tow trailers – including caravans – without taking a test, the UK Government has announced.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said the decision was made following a consultation and will free up space for more lorry tests to take place.
The UK needs tens of thousands of lorry drivers to ensure delivery demand is met, with fast-track tests expected to avoid Christmas chaos.
This change means drivers who passed their car test after 1 January 1997 will be able to tow a trailer up to 3,500kg when the law is changed.
Drivers who passed their car test before 1 January 1997 can already tow without a car and trailer test, so are not affected by this change.
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A spokesperson for the DVSA said: “We still encourage you to have training before towing a trailer to keep you safe.”
But the announcement was met with outrage from people across the country, concerned the move to create more lorry drivers is at the expense of public safety.
“Some people can’t even reverse a car into a parking spot after a test, but somehow they believe people will be able to reverse a car with a caravan with no tests – absolute joke!”, Nae Harper exclaimed.
Graham Townsend said: ‘I saw the consultation and thought what a stupid idea. Joe Bloggs towing a massive double axle caravan in a Nissan Micra.’
“Absolutely shocking, can’t keep up with demand so you move the goalposts at the expense of road safety”, Tom Wintrip wrote.
For more detailed information relating to the new law change, visit Gov.UK.
