The Highway Code was updated in 2022 with a strong emphasis on protecting people on two wheels, on foot, or riding horses. The guiding principle of these changes is the ‘hierarchy of road users’ – those who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility.
Sometimes this is misrepresented as implying that vulnerable road users can do as they please, which isn’t the intention of the changes. Everyone – whether they are pedestrians, cyclists or drivers towing a caravan – should always obey the rules of the road and do what they can to keep themselves and others safe.
Here’s our guide to towing a caravan safely around vulnerable road users.
Towing a caravan around vulnerable road users
Towing a caravan around cyclists
Towing a caravan around horses
Towing a caravan around motorcycles
Towing a caravan around pedestrians
Towing a caravan around cyclists
The latest edition of The Highway Code updated the guidance on how to drive around bicycles. Some of the wording clarified existing advice and rules, rather than introducing entirely new principles.
Now cyclists aren’t always the most popular group among other road users, but whatever your views, everyone deserves to get from A to B in safety. Underneath the Lycra and cycle helmet is someone’s daughter, son, wife or husband. It’s also something that many caravanners enjoy once they’re onsite itself, with some using one of the best caravan bike racks to safely transport their bicycles when they’re loading their caravan.
It’s worth understanding that cyclists are allowed to ride in the centre of the lane on quiet roads, in slower moving traffic, at the approach to junctions or when the road narrows. There’s also no rule against them riding two abreast. In fact, it can be safer for cyclists to ride next to each other, especially in groups, because this discourages unsafe overtaking, while also shortening the length of the group whenever a safe overtaking opportunity does present itself.
The flipside is that the Highway Code asks cyclists to be aware of drivers behind them, letting them overtake (for example, by stopping) when it’s safe to do so.
There’s now a minimum distance of 1.5m that drivers should leave when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph (see: speed limits when towing a caravan to know the various speeds you can travel at). The Highway Code recommends leaving more space when overtaking at higher speeds.
Caravanners need to remember that our tourer is wider than our car, particularly if you’re towing an 8ft-wide tourer, so in effect, we need to leave more space than in normal driving. We must also keep in mind that we are driving a much longer vehicle when towing a caravan, making it important to leave the required space for longer.
It’s an easy but potentially dangerous mistake to pull back in too early, failing to account for the extra length of the caravan.
Ideally, you will need a long, straight stretch of road to overtake a cyclist.
Think about the gradient up ahead, too. A cyclist might be travelling slowly uphill, but after they crest the rise, they can gain speed quickly.
Towing a caravan around horses
Many of these precautions apply when overtaking horses. The Highway Code gives a minimum gap of 2m when we are overtaking horses and their riders. Stay below 10mph while overtaking.
If anything, even more caution is needed around horses than cyclists, because these are large animals and can behave unpredictably.
Many horse riders will wave you past once they have seen you and they are happy that it’s safe for you to overtake. While that’s helpful, it remains our responsibility as drivers to be sure we can complete the manoeuvre safely. If you’re not comfortable with manoeuvres in your tourer, embarking on one of the caravan towing courses could be worthwhile too.
Towing a caravan around motorcycles
Although cyclists and horse riders will almost always be travelling far more slowly than a car towing a caravan, motorcyclists can make much quicker progress. Usually, the motorcyclist will be the one who is going to be doing the overtaking. It’s very important to make frequent mirror checks to watch for motorcyclists and other traffic approaching from behind – make sure you have a pair of the best towing mirrors before setting off.
Fast-moving motorbikes can go from being a distant speck to looming large in the mirror in seconds, so it’s important to make a conscious effort to look for powered two-wheelers when checking your mirrors.
This goes double on multi-lane roads, where motorcyclists might be filtering through traffic. Be cautious when changing lanes. Don’t just check for a gap in the lane you are about to enter, look behind and check for a motorbike that may be about to filter to the side of your tourer and tow car.
You can’t do this properly without extension mirrors, so make sure you fit them every time you tow, and adjust them carefully – I highlighted their importance recently when compiling my list of the 10 things every caravanner should know about towing. You should be able to see the edge of the caravan on the inside of the mirror to judge its position relative to other traffic.
Towing a caravan around pedestrians
Some of the best caravan sites can be in more remote positions, and on the way, you might come across people on foot, especially on smaller country roads without pavements. Be sure to leave at least 2m of space and pass them slowly. One new rule not always understood is that drivers should give way to pedestrians who are waiting to cross the road at a junction, or have already started to cross at a junction. The trouble is, not every road user – including pedestrians – realises they have priority in that situation.
As drivers, we should allow pedestrians to take advantage of this rule by waiting for them to cross, but be prepared to continue to turn at the junction if the pedestrian doesn’t take advantage of having priority.
You can’t wait indefinitely if someone is reluctant to cross the road in front of you. Or perhaps the person is standing near the junction but doesn’t intend to cross. Proceed with caution, just in case they do decide to step out.
The verdict on towing around vulnerable road users
The rules for driving around vulnerable road users are the same when towing as they are for everyday driving. It’s just that hitching up a caravan and adding it to the equation means more care is needed to apply those rules properly.
Giving cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians plenty of space has always been the safe and sensible approach, but now the rules are more clearly defined in The Highway Code.
And while motorbikes might be at the opposite end of the speed spectrum to a horse rider or a cyclist, they will also require tow car drivers’ full care and attention, to keep everybody safe when using our busy roads.
Take a look at the errors that the experts at Practical Caravan picked out as the 23 technical mistakes you’ll want to avoid when you’re in your tourer.
Lead image: Getty Images
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Caravan, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances and skill level. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. You should check that any van warranty will not be affected before proceeding with DIY projects.
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