Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to ensure that drivers holding a category B driving licence who tow trailers have a full understanding of the additional requirements for towing a trailer, including but not limited to, coupling and reversing procedures.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

Working with the trailer towing sector, the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency are developing a voluntary accredited training scheme to ensure drivers have the skills, knowledge and competencies required to tow safely.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of drivers towing trailers in response to the proposed changes under the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2021.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

Working with the trailer towing sector, the Department for Transport and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency are developing a voluntary accredited training scheme to ensure drivers have the skills, knowledge and competencies required to tow safely.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on road safety of there no longer being a mandatory separate driving licence category BE test for the towing of trailers.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

There is currently no evidence to suggest that competence and skills will worsen if drivers do not take a statutory test to tow a trailer. We are taking a number of measures that we would expect to have a positive impact, including working with industry to consider options for accredited training that could offer a standardised non-statutory testing approach.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has received strong support for an accreditation training scheme, which is also generating considerable interest from companies who tow as part of their business. We are progressing discussions urgently.

Found: of vessels with roll-on/roll-o˚ vehicle decks that, where tractor units are being used to push semi-trailers

Found: SAFETY LESSON Where tractor units are being used to push semi-trailers, safety procedures must be in