Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their announcement that UK drivers who passed their test after 1 January 1997 will no longer be required to take a specialist test to tow a trailer of up to 3,500 kilograms, what were the reasons for this change; and what assessment have they made of the safety implications of the change.

In September, the Government implemented changes to streamline the HGV driver testing process and free up more examiner capacity. With regards to the removal of B+E requirement, car drivers will no longer need to take another test to tow a trailer or caravan which will allow around 30,000 extra HGV driving tests to be conducted every year.

Road safety remains of paramount importance, and we are already working with training providers developing options for an industry-led accreditation scheme for trailer training. This could offer a standardised training and assessment approach for any driver wishing to tow a trailer, keeping driving and towing skills current and of a high standard. There is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that competence and skills will worsen if drivers do not take a statutory test to tow a trailer.