First let me start by saying this is not a sweeping generalisation, I fully appreciate most people stick to the limits.
We have just arrived home from our annual trip to Cornwall, where we previously have camped in tents. This year however, we bought a TT and was my third experience in towing long distance.
Coming up the M5 M6, I sat in the slow lane doing the limit of 60mph, only to be horrified when we were over taken by cars towing caravans (large ones at that) at 70+.
One of these over took me and was shaking (snaking?) so bad, it almost swiped the off side front wing and I had to swerve to avoid it. The driver didn't even make any attempt to slow down.
You want to put your own safety at risk, then fine, but don't put other road users at risk by not sticking to the limits that are set out for a reason.
I'd rather arrive late or take my time, than put my family and other road users in danger - I am only sorry that I never caught a reg number, as I would have no problem naming and shaming.
Rant over, enjoy the rest of the season, and drive safely.
------------- As a child my families menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.
All sorts of silly people. They think they are under the guidance of St. Christopher himself.
Picture in one of the papers on Friday, I was reading it in the cafe, Sun or Mirror or something?
Showed the traffic over on the A14 A1(M) and what do we have in the outside lane? A caravan.
Not sure where exactly so it may have been legal, But there were 3 or 4 lanes in the picture.
Seen several caravans on their sides on the M5, Sometimes the car is upturned sometimes they are up in the air but the right way up.
overturned caravans on the A30 M5 M6 are a lot more common then you think, not sure of the stats be it could almost be a daily event during the high season on these roads.
In the first half of last year, there were more than 500 caravan incidents on motorways in the West Midlands alone, with stats from the Highways Agency showing that burst caravan tyres, breakdowns and collisions with other vehicles are the most common incidents involving tourers.
We were traveling on the M180 Today towing our Folding camper,Doing a steady 60 in the inside lane and at least 3 vehicles overtook us,a mondeo, and 2 4X4s, towing large caravans, they stayed in the middle lane for ages the idiots, not only exceeding the limit but hogging the middle lane as well.
------------- Exercise every day and Die Healthy....
Interesting thread this. Most times on our trips away I stick to the limits. Our speedo according to the GPS over reads by 3mph at 60 so the cruise gets set at 63. I like to get by all the HGVs and 'save the planet' types but I am likewise horrified when I see outfits going by me at what must easily be 70+. While I freely admit to sometimes straying slightly over 60 (when the cruise is not on) there is no excuse for crazy speeds. I do like to get a move on but like to think of others eg when I am lining up to pass a load of slower traffic. Good place as an example is the A34 twixt Oxford and the M3; all one needs is to ensure, with a tourer on the back, that there is enough of a gap behind to avoid creating an 'elephant race'. I have lost count on many a trip the number of outfits with trailers doing even higher speeds, like an estimated 80 or so. Crazy.
We are ex caravanners ( hope to change that next year!) and previously towed with a Pajero, Sedona, Mondeo and Passat estate, all very capable vehicles. We stuck around the 60 mph mark although the Mondeo would have carried on much faster!
This year we stayed in a friends caravan in Cornwall and coming back we too were horrified at the speed of some people towing. One large van type towing a twin axle overtook us and we were over 70 mph at that point!
It's just stupid, an accident at that speed would take out the vehicle plus everyone around them. Why risk it to save minutes on a journey?
It made me reconsider getting another caravan, but not for long!!!
This is probable a silly question, but i'm new to towing and caravanning. When i towed her back from the dealers last week (nerves kicking in big time), i kept at 50mph. Is this okay to do on a motorway? I know the limit is 60 when towing, but i just felt safer at 50?
------------- Enjoy life while you can, none of us know what's round the corner!
So i'm not alone then? I just couldn't believe ppl would be so reckless, and for what, a few minutes??
Ferretlady, going 50 is fine, any slower then you are in just as much danger causing an accident as you are going over the speed limit.
60mph is a very stable speed, the only time I go slower is if there is any side wind, but I only have a TT not a caravan.
You'll find your confidence grows, and your accelorator foots gets heavier, but don't let it get too heavy - thats when you become complaciant - praise the lord of cruise control I say
And petemate, yes, if I am following a lorry, and its going slower than 60 I will creep up the cc to about 62-3 to make the overtaking as quick as possible so i'm not lane hogging but then drop back down once i've over taken.
Skoda bob, its was a citreon Picasso that nearly took the front of my car out
------------- As a child my families menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.
We also stick to the towing speed limit using cruise control as often as we can (when traffic density allows). Anyone else noticed that more often than not when travelling at 60mph you invariably catch up with vehicles that have previously roared past. I don't think overall that travelling much faster than 60 gets you there all that much quicker thèse days due to the sheer volume of traffic
Quote: Originally posted by ferretlady on 27/8/2013
This is probable a silly question, but i'm new to towing and caravanning. When i towed her back from the dealers last week (nerves kicking in big time), i kept at 50mph. Is this okay to do on a motorway? I know the limit is 60 when towing, but i just felt safer at 50?
If you have a satnav, go by the speed indicated on that, most speedos are inaccurate, some over read most under read, so if you think you're doing 50 mph on the speedo you will be doing 46,
the best thing to do on a motorway is stay with the HGVs,most will be doing exactly 56 mph, thats if you dont have satnav, and they wont be able to continually overtake you, so stops them from causing annoyance to other road users who get stuck behind them while they overtake, and can take up to 3 miles just to pass another vehicle
the best thing to do on a motorway is stay with the HGVs,most will be doing exactly 56 mph, thats if you dont have satnav, and they wont be able to continually overtake you, so stops them from causing annoyance to other road users who get stuck behind them while they overtake, and can take up to 3 miles just to pass another vehicle
Yep thats right tuck in behind a nice tall HGV and watch your mpg go up at the same time, lets face it it's only 4 mph difference
Quote: Originally posted by bessie500 on 28/8/2013
the best thing to do on a motorway is stay with the HGVs,most will be doing exactly
56 mph, thats if you dont have satnav, and they wont be able to continually overtake you, so stops them from causing annoyance to other road users who get stuck behind them while they overtake, and can take up to 3 miles just to pass another vehicle
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Yep thats right tuck in behind a nice tall HGV and watch your mpg go up at the same time, lets face it it's only 4 mph difference
Bessie
Can be a bit dodgy though bessie500 - you can get caught in a nasty bow wave. Fortunately our outfit is very stable and when I have been stuck behind an HGV for a while until it is clear behind, and I can go by without causing a queue, it doesn't affect us. But I have seen quite a few outfits travelling behind HGVs, in particular 'double deckers' and tankers, and their caravans are swaying around alarmingly. That's one reason why I like to get by 'em asap!!
Pete
I'll admit to probably going up to perhaps 62-65 momentarily, when going past a HGV. The outfit seems less susceptible to the bow-wave coming off the front of the HGV if I accelerate as the caravan passes the cab. I back off once past obviously.
There was a chap in an old Passat saloon on the DFDS crossing from Dunkirk to Dover last night, towing a big twin axle trailer...with a Renault Espace on it.
I'd say the car & trailer were 2000kg+.
Shower of sparks as the car grounded on the ferry ramp. Front wheels were scrabbling for grip, as the back of the car was so low.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Quite alarmed
