You will need a light vehicle license in order to drive the vehicle being toward. Some drivers may not be aware that this license is necessary when a trailer is hitched to a vehicle or when driving with a heavy load on board. You will find detail of permitted trailer loads in your driver's manual, along with the maximum tow bar download that the vehicle can pull. Consult your driver's manual to determine the maximum safe loads permitted for your vehicle and the proper distribution of that lo
Before
setting out, make sure:
That the caravan or trailer is properly loaded
That the caravan or trailer is correctly hitched
That the emergency wire is properly connected.
That the light and electric brake are properly connected.
That all lights work and all lamps, reflectors, plates, etc. are clean.
That the supporting leg and wheels are
securely screwed in position.
You should never carry more passengers
that allowed. The driver's view of the road must never be obstructed by either
load or passengers. Nor should they be allowed to prevent the driver from
having control of the vehicle at all times.
A child should never sit on the lap of an adult in a moving car
Pay special attention to your driver's manual
to know the permitted roof load when using any type of roof rack. Any load
placed on the roof will be above the center of gravity of the vehicle and will
increase the likelihood of it rolling over. Check that your roof rack is
securely fastened, and make sure that braking, accelerating or turning a corner
will not displace the load. Position the load up against the front edge of the
roof rack and secure it in place with some material strong enough to prevent it
from rolling, slipping or falling out of place. If you use a tarpaulin,
remember the effect of wind. Distribute the load evenly, taking care not to
overload that rear. Check the tires and see that the lights are properly
adjusted
Make sure the load is firmly secured, and check frequently!
A heavy load or incorrect tire pressure can affect your cars performance, particularly its ability to take corner, its acceleration capacity, and the braking capacity, and the braking distance. With the car fully or heavily loaded, it will also take longer to overtake, since the engine will have a heavily load to pull. Similarly, the braking distance will increase when driving downhill, since the car is pushed forward by the weight of load.
Millions of tons of dangerous goods are transported on the roads each year.
If you are in any way
involved in an accident with a vehicle displaying a hazard warning, extreme
caution is imperative
