Yes, I do very often wear a crash helmet when driving. Due to special circumstances. I can see that your special circumstances, with a narrow caravan, do not require towing mirrors. I might still have them, though, if they improved my view.
Like so many aspects of our wonderful hobby, we tend to generalise and think of all units with the same mind set as we do our own.
I am sure that for every caravan that is taller and wider than the car that is towing it, there are just as many other types of trailers that are either smaller and/or narrower than the tow car and between their central rear view mirror and their side rear view mirrors, the standard mirrors that come with the car are more than capable of seeing any persons or other vehicles anywhere around their trailer.
If the Police do a roadside mirror check they will stand at the rear corner of your trailer and hold up a number of fingers for you to tell them how many they are showing.
I'm sure the DVLA will have a more comprehensive check but if you have a mirror issue, it will be more likely that it will be the Police that stop you to check.
However, if you are towing a trailer, any trailer, there will be blind spots and no mirror, extension or standard, will cover all of your rear view. Perhaps a video camera would give you better coverage but, so far, they have yet to become the law.
Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 03/8/2010
I think a lot of people are missing the point here...
You are legal towing a caravan without the add-on mirrors sold as "towing mirrors" providing you have 2 unobstructed rear view mirrors
Who cares what is legal or not. I can see down the side of my caravan with the standard wing mirrors, but I can see behind the caravan with towing mirrors. A car can be a safe distance behind my caravan but invisible in my normal mirrors on a straight road.
Why would anyone not want the best rearward visibility possible? Only one answer, because they never look behind them anyway.
Quote: Originally posted by freeatlast on 03/8/2010
Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 03/8/2010
I think a lot of people are missing the point here...
You are legal towing a caravan without the add-on mirrors sold as "towing mirrors" providing you have 2 unobstructed rear view mirrors
Who cares what is legal or not. I can see down the side of my caravan with the standard wing mirrors, but I can see behind the caravan with towing mirrors. A car can be a safe distance behind my caravan but invisible in my normal mirrors on a straight road.
I have a set of towing mirrors - sometimes i use them, sometimes I dont. The one thing I will say is that the view behind my caravan isn't that different whether i use them or not - There will always be a major blind spot behind the caravan. I can count the fingers sticking out from behind the caravan using my ordinary mirrors.The only time i find them to be any use is when i'm reversing.
And if i'm reading the previous posts correctly then if stopped by the police they should be standing 20 metres behind the caravan before doing this test??
------------- The things that come to those who wait, may be the only things left by those who got there first.
Not looking for an argument.For me, the legality or otherwise is secondary. The law is not the only reason to do something. The mirrors give me a better view, so I use them. If there were no laws at all about towing mirrors I would still use them, because they make my life safer.
Safety, comfort, convenience. If it hepls, just use it.
Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 03/8/2010
Rune Caster
Not looking for an argument.For me, the legality or otherwise is secondary. The law is not the only reason to do something. The mirrors give me a better view, so I use them. If there were no laws at all about towing mirrors I would still use them, because they make my life safer.
Safety, comfort, convenience. If it hepls, just use it.
Jim
Me neither Jim...
And I agree with this post of yours entirely - very good post
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby
If the view from extension mirrors isn't signifacantly different to the ordinary mirrors then the extension mirrors aren't set up correctly. Whole vehicles can become visible which aren't seen in the ordinary mirrors. I can't see the downside. They can save someones life.
We haven't always seen eye to eye. I'm really glad we're on the same page for once. We're all trying to give the best advice we can, and sometimes differences occur.
This discussion arises with monotonous regularity, I wonder if Webby could pin the post quoting the construction and use regulation, I'm sure it would be a very useful reference.................Mick
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: Towing mirrors - an observation
