The message from An Garda Síochána at a Longford IFA farm safety event on Tuesday night was stark; if you continue to drive a jeep and trailer without the correct licence you are at risk of losing your licence.
Two leading members of the Roscommon/Longford roads policing Unit (RPU) told the some 200 in attendance on Longford IFA chair Gavin White’s farm that the force tries to show leniency to first-time offenders but those caught re-offending will be prosecuted.
Out-of-date NCTs and DOEs are still the most common breaches when it comes to towing trailers.
Enda O’Kane and Padraig O’Gara from the RPU said issues such as out-of-date NCTs or DOEs are still the most common breaches when it comes to towing trailers but the issue of incorrect licence “has come to the fore” in recent years.
In order to tow a jeep and trailer over 3,500kg, a person must have an EB licence. A standard licence is a B class. Anyone who passed their driving test prior to 1989 automatically received an EB licence. Everyone since has had to sit a test to receive the EB classification.
“If you have a B licence only then all you can handle is 3,500kg… that includes the vehicle, the trailer and the load,” Garda O’Gara said warning that without the correct licence most insurance companies will not cover the driver in the event of an accident.
If a person has a valid EB licence then they can tow up to 7,000kg.
In order to tow a jeep and trailer over 3,500kg, a person must have an EB licence.
In terms of prosecutions, Garda O’Gara said the first offence is “normally a caution” but if there are repeat offence or if the driver is involved in accident or has multiple other offences then there will be a prosecution and risk of losing the licence.
‘MAM’s the word for gardaí’
Both Garda Kane and Garda O’Gara gave those in attendance four tips to avoid a run-in with the law when it comes to towing trailer.
1.Check the licence: make sure you have the correct EB licence if towing over 3,500kg. This includes the weight of the vehicle, the trailer and the load.
2.Check the vehicle’s MAM: maximum authorised mass (MAM) is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried when being used on the road.
3.Check the trailer: make sure the trailer is roadworthy, has brakes, lights and a safety chain for connecting to the hitch of the vehicle.
4.Check the speed: regardless of what weight you are carrying and what road you are on, the maximum speed when towing a trailer is 80km/hr.
The message from An Garda Síochána at a Longford IFA farm safety event on Tuesday night was stark; if you continue to drive a jeep and trailer without the correct licence you are at risk of losing your licence.
Two leading members of the Roscommon/Longford roads policing Unit (RPU) told the some 200 in attendance on Longford IFA chair Gavin White’s farm that the force tries to show leniency to first-time offenders but those caught re-offending will be prosecuted.
Out-of-date NCTs and DOEs are still the most common breaches when it comes to towing trailers.
Enda O’Kane and Padraig O’Gara from the RPU said issues such as out-of-date NCTs or DOEs are still the most common breaches when it comes to towing trailers but the issue of incorrect licence “has come to the fore” in recent years.
In order to tow a jeep and trailer over 3,500kg, a person must have an EB licence. A standard licence is a B class. Anyone who passed their driving test prior to 1989 automatically received an EB licence. Everyone since has had to sit a test to receive the EB classification.
“If you have a B licence only then all you can handle is 3,500kg… that includes the vehicle, the trailer and the load,” Garda O’Gara said warning that without the correct licence most insurance companies will not cover the driver in the event of an accident.
If a person has a valid EB licence then they can tow up to 7,000kg.
In order to tow a jeep and trailer over 3,500kg, a person must have an EB licence.
In terms of prosecutions, Garda O’Gara said the first offence is “normally a caution” but if there are repeat offence or if the driver is involved in accident or has multiple other offences then there will be a prosecution and risk of losing the licence.
‘MAM’s the word for gardaí’
Both Garda Kane and Garda O’Gara gave those in attendance four tips to avoid a run-in with the law when it comes to towing trailer.
1.Check the licence: make sure you have the correct EB licence if towing over 3,500kg. This includes the weight of the vehicle, the trailer and the load.
2.Check the vehicle’s MAM: maximum authorised mass (MAM) is the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried when being used on the road.
3.Check the trailer: make sure the trailer is roadworthy, has brakes, lights and a safety chain for connecting to the hitch of the vehicle.
4.Check the speed: regardless of what weight you are carrying and what road you are on, the maximum speed when towing a trailer is 80km/hr.
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