How fast do you tow? + road incident

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cheekywelshie

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How fast do you tow your horse on A roads?
I am fairly new to towing (well haven't done any in a while) and so am gradually building up the distances and while I have been out accompanied a few times, I have only been out on my own twice - this was the second time - but I don't drive very fast. I was doing about 40mph on an A-road (60mph limit, not a dual carriageway) dropping to 20-25 on the very tight bends. I was so busy concentrating in front i hadn't realised the build up of traffic - anyway this fella (not even in an audi or BMW lol the usual culprits) overtook then stopped! I had to choice but to stop quickly - then as I was trying to overtake he got out of his car and ran towards the front of mine waving his hands - and said did you not realise how much traffic is behind you and you could have pulled into lay-bys. I said sorry i am new to towing and I didn't remember seeing any lay-bys on the route. Then - he stood in the middle of the road, stopped all the oncoming traffic and turned around and beckoned the traffic behind me to go past! I felt a bit upset and it knocked my confidence a bit. Is this type of thing a one off or is it common? I carried on driving home OK but i'd just started to get my confidence up about going out on my own and now it's taken a knock. A friend has offered to come out with me a few times on a few routes. (I have done all the towing training - and have always been fine with someone with me - but its not always possible to have someone there so I thought i should try going out on my own)
 
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No that's not common. What a horrid experience. I do try not to make a nuisance of myself and will do 50 on an a road but only if totally straight. As for pulling in I never have but if there was a massive build up I prob would if I saw a decent lay by but you do not have to!!!
 
I do tow at a decent speed, however I have been towing for yonks and I am comfortable to do so.

You are right to stick to a speed you are comfortable with, but if it were me I would pull over if I had a long queue of vehicles behind me.

That being said I think the driver that pulled in front of you is a twonk and very inconsiderate, please don't let it put you off getting out and about. The more you do, the better you will get :)

Sorry, to add, in answer to your question - I tow at 50mph on an A road and up to 60mph on a dual carriageway/motorway - obviously slower around corners.
 
Whilst this guy's behaviour was competely OTT, sadly road rage against towing combinations is getting increasingly common.

I did a 110 mile round trip yesterday with an unfamiliar horse, on mostly single carriageway A roads. I was aware of traffic building up behing me, and managed to pull over a couple of times, but good long lays with easy entrances and exits were very hard to find.

It is easy to get unnerved by other road users, but it is vital to give the horse a good steady ride, so to some extent they need to lump it. By all means pull over if it is safe and convenient to do so, but don't be intimidated into making rash decisions.

When planning a towing route, I do take into account how much I may impede other traffic, and may adjust it accordingly.

ETA there are several narrow and winding A roads round here where I rarely exceed 40 mph, slower on bends. 50 mph only if the road is wide and straight.
 
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What a total s**t. No, not usual. He could have caused injury to your horse making you stop suddenly. I think I would reported him to the police for harassment. I go up to 50mph on a straight bit of road but if the road is windy, a lot slower. Yes, I have indicated to the left and slowed down at times if it is safe for cars to overtake though. Something to think about but don't let one idiot worry you when you next go out.
 
Disgraceful arrogant behaviour by the driver who stopped you, quite un-nerving as well not knowing what he was going to do! I know it's easier said than done but try to put this out of your mind and keep going because this is really unusual. Keep an eye on your mirrors for traffic building and if you see somewhere safe to pull in then do so but as Michen says you do not have to. Towing a trailer is a darn sight faster than a Tractor but people generally don't tend to mess with them so much.
 
Rule 169
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.


It is much safer to allow drivers to pass you than to risk an idiot like this doing something like that. He shouldn't have behaved in that way - but you have to allow for stupid unfortunately.
 
He is a total ********. I have been towing for quite a few years now, have had to adapt recently to a baby horse who is clearly not too used to travelled so going slower around bends etc, but I ignore other road users & go the speed it is APPROPRIATE for my horse to go. Having said that, I would pull over ASAP if I got a queue of cars behind me
 
It's extremely wrong of him to approach you .
But while I understand you are new to all this you must be much more aware of your duty to ensure the free flow of traffic and you must must take as much care about knowing what's behind you as in front .
On your question on speed I drive on an single carriage way A road at 45 to 50 , how fast you corner depends of course on how tight the corners are and the visibility so it's impossible to judge what the correct speed is without knowing .
Don't let it put you off its a learning curve the more you do it the easier it gets .
 
Goldenstar said:
It's extremely wrong of him to approach you .
But while I understand you are new to all this you must be much more aware of your duty to ensure the free flow of traffic and you must must take as much care about knowing what's behind you as in front .
On your question on speed I drive on an single carriage way A road at 45 to 50 , how fast you corner depends of course on how tight the corners are and the visibility so it's impossible to judge what the correct speed is without knowing .
Don't let it put you off its a learning curve the more you do it the easier it gets .
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I agree...

The last time I towed a couple of weeks ago was all on A roads, and my top speed was probably about 45. There is only one bend on the 20 mile route that necessitates driving round it slower than 30...

Maybe the next time you go out towing, go a route that you know, so you can decide when to pull in and let traffic past..

We all know how frustrating it is to be in a queue of cars behind a tractor on an A road whose driver is ignoring the fact that there is a queue. .

Fiona
 
You MUST get a dashcam fitted - these things are bloody awesome and you could have easily taken that to the police and had him reprimanded.

I tow at a safe speed according to road conditions, on good A roads I will tow upto the limit which is 50mph for towing combos and on Motorways I do 60mph when traffic allows, corners are taken into account and I will slow down in an unfamiliar area....I keep an eye on my mirrors and will pull in and let traffic pass only if safe for me to do so.

The guy was an utter bell end, don't let him put you off, practice makes perfect, he's probably the sort who tries to undertake LGV's on roundabouts too, although I bet my life he wouldn't brake check an artic....TBH if the trailer was empty and I'd had my crappy old trooper I would have fashioned him a new back end!!!!!!
 
Unfortunately there are people who think the road belongs to them. I drive a horsebox and on long winding narrow roads I will pull in to allow others to pass if needed.
For your confidence, book a lesson with a company that offers towing lessons ( younger drivers need to pass a test so there should be companies around ) as a refresher and advice and fit a dashboard camera so you can log the idiots and report them if necessary.
 
More you drive the more you learn. It was quite rude of him to stop you and do what he did though. You are under no obligation to let people past you until you are driving ridiculously slow (tractor style) the corners will improve.

Dont let one rude person ruin your confidence, not everyone is that bold.
 
I towed a trailer from Worcester to Hereford once and wanted to stop after coming down Fromes Hill. There was NOWHERE to pull in, until on the outskirts of Hereford. That is also a road where there are no safe places to overtake, so if get behind a lorry there is no option but to sit and wait. I don't understand why drivers will stay behind a lorry but get cross about a trailer!

I think 40 is plenty fast enough on a not very smooth/bendy road. I do pull in if there is somewhere suitable and there is a build up of traffic, but sometimes there is simply not a suitable place.
 
So sorry this happened to you. Not all drivers are ******. Don't let it knock your confidence, you sound like you are doing brilliantly
 
From my experiences as a B+E/LGV instructor and as an advanced driver observer .......

My advice is to use this as a learning experience albeit an over the top one

Are you checking the left mirror as you start to bend left and the right mirror as you start to bend right - even on slight curves ?

I ask as the view from the mirrors opens up to give you a good view behind when you do that

You are perfectly right to tow at the speed you are comfortable with but if generally slower than others then look out for any layby / pull-in bus stop / large opening to a driveway etc where you can safely pull over for 30 seconds to let others pass.

Pity you are not near me in Leicester as I could help you for FREE with expenses covered
 
He sounds like a total a****. If you got his reg I would report him for road rage.

However, you live and learn and I'm sure you will check your mirrors more frequently in future. I was stuck behind 2 horseboxes in convoy the other day leaving the Royal Welsh and although I wasn't bothered about being held up by them I was annoyed that not only did they pass at least 4 huge laybys when they had a tailback of about a mile but they were travelling so close together it made it very hard for anyone to overtake.
 
cheekywelshie said:
How fast do you tow your horse on A roads?
I am fairly new to towing (well haven't done any in a while) and so am gradually building up the distances and while I have been out accompanied a few times, I have only been out on my own twice - this was the second time - but I don't drive very fast. I was doing about 40mph on an A-road (60mph limit, not a dual carriageway) dropping to 20-25 on the very tight bends. I was so busy concentrating in front i hadn't realised the build up of traffic - anyway this fella (not even in an audi or BMW lol the usual culprits) overtook then stopped! I had to choice but to stop quickly - then as I was trying to overtake he got out of his car and ran towards the front of mine waving his hands - and said did you not realise how much traffic is behind you and you could have pulled into lay-bys. I said sorry i am new to towing and I didn't remember seeing any lay-bys on the route. Then - he stood in the middle of the road, stopped all the oncoming traffic and turned around and beckoned the traffic behind me to go past! I felt a bit upset and it knocked my confidence a bit. Is this type of thing a one off or is it common? I carried on driving home OK but i'd just started to get my confidence up about going out on my own and now it's taken a knock. A friend has offered to come out with me a few times on a few routes. (I have done all the towing training - and have always been fine with someone with me - but its not always possible to have someone there so I thought i should try going out on my own)
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WHAT A PRAT

him not you get a dash cam to protect yourself from idiots like this, why should you pull over. That is down to him to over take you when safe to do, also try putting a *L* on the trailer to warn other drivers your new to towing.
 
^^^dont put an L use those P plates.

I have to corner slowly as my mare struggles to keep upright if I corner too quickly (sharp corners and round a bouts tho not sweeping corners)
However on dual carraigeway of weather permits I'll do 55-60 and on single carraigeway a roads usually 45-50 if straight (the limit).
I would pull in if I noticed loads of traffic and it was safe but Havnt had to yet.
I drove a 3.5t lorry last week to the vets and I don't think I did much different speed wise in that than the trailer really.
The driver was way out of line to do what he did and actually would likely be classes as dangerous driving if the police had seen it! Agree with another poster (I would have liked to reshape his rear bumper if no precious cargo on board and I had a dash cam to prove he slammed his breaks on!)
 
Thanks all. My horse used to be fine towing with anothet but he gets stressed on his own so I have spent a lot of time trying to load him and on a rear unload trailer, building his confidence up, just driving him down the road and back. This seemed to be working. I was very conscious about trying to be as careful as possible and was mentally exhausted when I got Home, but I will make sure I pay more attention to the traffic behind in future. My Other half suggested going on B roads but this road is direct and probably easier - most people driving trailers use it - I have only been down it once before towing with someone with me, but that was on a Sunday and it was quieter. I had agreed to go on this ride because it was a Sunday and thought it might be good to try on a quiet day - but my friend got the days wrong and it turned out to be Saturday so I asked them if they'd meet me at my yard. We set off and I followed their car but they were unable to come back with me as busy and I guess I can't /it isn't fair to rely on others... So I was very nervous about driving back on my own for the first time on an A road and through small town centre ( as opposed to just round the village ).

I was lucky he wasn't aggressive or violent - what worries me is I'm not sure if it is safe for a female to be towing on her own , what if he had been aggressive? I do not know what I would have done.
 
I would have phoned the police on him there and then. Call the non emergency number next time they will have a fun chat with him on road rage. I would have been furious if someone endangered my horse like that just to let people over take. There is a road up here that is an A road but somehow they managed to forget to put laybys on it. There are maybe 3 at one end near a city then none anywhere else along it. With not many good opportunities to even let someone past.

Report idiots like this in future please. He was wrong. Arrogant little jumped up git.
 
I can't remember if there were lay-bys he said there were but I'll look next time. There is one I saw but that was on the other side of the road. Can anyone recommend what dash cam to get? I think I'll have to get on else I won't feel safe going out
 
cheekywelshie said:
I can't remember if there were lay-bys he said there were but I'll look next time. There is one I saw but that was on the other side of the road. Can anyone recommend what dash cam to get? I think I'll have to get on else I won't feel safe going out
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Sorry this happened to you ,Really a dash cam will make you safer? sorry dont get that .

Anyhow welcome to the world of us farmers! we all operate on the road at the maximum speed our machines can do even if we are breaking the speed limit which has only just been raised to 40kph,there are tractors capable of 60kph if only we could legally do it. The police have recently started handing out Fixed penalties to those they feel are holding up other road users so its something worth thinking about. http://www.fwi.co.uk/news/tractor-driver-speaks-out-over-fine-for-50-car-tailback.htm

If we had dash cams you would not believe some drivers antics !
 
I am so sorry that happened to you! It is the responsibility of other drivers to overtake safely, I don't think there's a law for trailers to pull into lay-bys, although I know a tractor driver was fined recently for letting a half-mile tailback build up without pulling in.

You should fine reviews of dash cams on Amazon, and if a similar incident ever happens, you roll up your windows, lock the doors and call the police. Note the reg number and the car type, a photo or description of the twonk in question would be useful as well. Please don't let this put you off towing! Life is difficult enough, you shouldn't have to be scared when you have as much right to use the roads as anyone else!
 
fiwen30 said:
I am so sorry that happened to you! It is the responsibility of other drivers to overtake safely, I don't think there's a law for trailers to pull into lay-bys, although I know a tractor driver was fined recently for letting a half-mile tailback build up without pulling in.
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Highway code
Rule 169
Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.

There is no specific definition of large or slow moving so each situation is based on what is reasonable at the time and can lead to a prosecution under the Careless and inconsiderate driving law
 
I pull over regularly when towing, my main route to PC was on a long windy road where you had to go slowly with a trailer, I would pull over every couple of miles if necessary.
Speed of cornering - you will get faster, it is more about how quickly you brake and accelerate than how quickly you go round the corner itself.
I would have been cursing if I was stuck behind you too, tbh, although would not have done what nobhead did.

ETA You don't need a lay by to pull over, on a long straight bit you just indicate and slow right down and/or stop, keep indicating and people will go past when it is safe to do so - do not wave them past yourself.
 
If there are no laybys, and there's a long straight stretch up ahead with good visibilty, I sometimes slow down, to say 25-30mph whilst indicating left, to allow following traffic to overtake, then pick up normal speed afterwards.

Is this good practice if there are no suitable laybys or pull ins? IME overtaking vehicle drivers seem to understand and appreciate it.
 
Although your partner suggests driving on B roads, I definately stick to A roads if you can. If you're not that experienced the last thing you want is to meet is something large coming the other way on a B road and have to worry about squeezing past or reversing
 
Is it worth putting something on the back saying slow moving, nervous horses or something similar?
So could I now get fined over this?? If he goes and complains to the police?! (I did explain I was new to towing)
 
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