The NCC partners with a range of organisations to form the UK Towing Safety Alliance

The UK Towing Safety Alliance has been launched with the aim of raising awareness of the need to tow safely has been launched by the National Caravan Council and a wide range of other organisations, including both caravan clubs and a parliamentary council.

The first major initiative of the Alliance, whose other founding members include TyreSafe, NFU Mutual, the British Horse Society and the Pony Club, and both the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Caravan and Camping Club, will be the TLC campaign. This aims to improve drivers’ knowledge of towing safety.

Areas that will be focused on include tyres (making sure they are properly inflated and have sufficient tread), loads (making sure loads are secure, within legal limits, and evenly distributed), as the importance of knowing how to load a caravan will be highlighted, as will how crucial it is to adhere to relevant caravan weights, and finally, connectivity (making sure cable and lights are working properly).

The UK Towing Safety Alliance has already produced a series of leaflets to highlight these messages.

Jamie Hassall, executive director at the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, said, “The statistics from both the DVSA and National Highways demonstrate an urgent need to improve towing safety across the UK. This collaborative effort will ensure that drivers have the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions and reduce the risks associated with towing.”

For those who would like some further tips before heading on tour this year, take a look at our tow car expert David Motton’s caravan towing tips to help you have an enjoyable and safe time on the road.

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PeterBaber

Peter Baber is Reviews Editor of both Practical Motorhome and Practical Caravan. He has been reviewing motorhomes for the best part of a decade now. His first caravan reviews date back to the early 1990s when he first worked on Practical Caravan, before he embarked on a 20-year career in business journalism which saw him edit a wide variety of magazines, and launch a few too, including one that won an award. Although he enjoyed that, he always knew he wanted to come back. Peter reports on all the new models that make it to dealer forecourts each season, giving his judgement online and in magazine reviews. He has twice been shortlisted for a Caravan Writers Guild award. When he is not working, apart from going on motorhome trips himself (mostly local to where he lives in West Yorkshire, but also last year right across France) he likes trying to write novels, cooking, throwing the odd pot, and has just taken up tennis.