I am getting just a little bit annoyed at the amount of caravaners that don’t have extended mirrors so can’t see a thing when overtaking 
. I’ve had two or three cut in early now almost clipping me as they pulled in. Surely it should be made law that they have these extended mirrors on when towing ? It’s no different than us going out with no mirrors, VOSA would crucify us 
Phil
It is already the law that they have to have mirrors.
Many caravanners treat towing mirrors as something that they can do without but the law says different. There is a legal requirement for you to have mirrors that allow you to see clearly an area that is 4 metres wide from the side of your caravan at a distance 20 metres behind the driver. A caravan is significantly wider than a car even a large 4x4 and you simply can’t comply with the law unless you fit towing mirrors.
philtvc65:
‘…caravaners that don’t have extended mirrors so can’t see a thing when overtaking… Surely it should be made law that they have these extended mirrors…’
The law probably exists already - there’s no need for extra stuff to be ignored - but the precious few national & local law enforcers (whether they’re plastic or real plod) are busy - or ‘training’ - elsewhere with their scant resources.
The politicians that you & I vote into ‘power’ [sic] are too busy funding, sucking-up, bossing-around or otherwise kow-towing to other people’s countries before addressing our own needs 
The law does exist, but I must admit, I find the extending mirrors distracting and have often drove without them to be honest.
I wouldn’t cut in close to a truck though, caravans aren’t what I’d call a solid object and even clipping a truck would most likely cause the caravan to disintegrate.
I only towed mine once without them as one of the clamps broke so could only fit one of em. Im not sure how some poeple that tow regular without them get by to be honest unless you have a big 4x4 which is wider than a car.
I couldnt see sod all past my rear qaurter without them and when pulling out to overtake a wagon on a hill i had to make sure i was on a slight left hand bend on the DC before i could see far enough back through the remaining N.S mirror. It was a ball ache to say the least.
And yes, its against the law to tow without them if you cant see a certain distance (cant remember what it is) past the rear corner of what your towing.
all vehicales towing a caravan need to have extended mirrors , avon and somerset and devon and cornwall plod are quite hot on this subject ,as there is only two roads that head southwest ,and everyother vehicale is a car and carravan or a ginsters wagon, but its just like a lot of laws you should not be doing while in charge of a motorised vehicale 
oh and i do own a carravan 
mirror signal manouver
philtvc65:
I’ve had two or three cut in early now almost clipping me as they pulled in.
Maybe they are “professional” drivers
Anyone who owns a caravan should be shot or forced to give it up to clarkson!
hgvhgv:
Anyone who owns a caravan should be shot or forced to give it up to clarkson!
I tow a caravan as do a lot of lgv /profesional drivers do,and yes I DO TOW with extended
mirrors and yes it is the law to tow with these mirrors.
Please dont tar us all as numpties,i for one take a profetional attitude to towing as i do when
driving for a living. Are we all to be Shot ?
I think I replied to a similar post last year.
When towing my caravan with a Discovery I had extension mirrors on but I still had a load of trouble judging when the 'van was clear of the front of the vehicle I had just passed.
Maybe down to the mirrors being smaller than truck ones and not giving as good a view but they were standard towing mirrors and as large as I could get them.
The mirror is no further away from the driver than it would be on a HGV but it honestly was a lot harder to estimate distance with.
I admit that I used to stay out in the middle lane longer to be certain.
(and as insurance I had a sign on the back saying " C+E on HOLIDAY which seemed to help" )
As far as being required by law, although I fitted them , I think that providing the 'van was not one of the newer wide bodied ones I could get away with it on the Discovery as the vehicle was as wide as the 'van.
I agree with the OP though, all caravan towers should be able to see whats behind at all times.
Finally, no longer have the 'van…but have bought a Micra to be just as awkward 
(I haven’t really )
hgvhgv:
Anyone who owns a caravan should be shot or forced to give it up to clarkson!
NTSA 
Happy Keith:
The law probably exists already - there’s no need for extra stuff to be ignored - but the precious few national & local law enforcers (whether they’re plastic or real plod) are busy - or ‘training’ - elsewhere with their scant resources.
That shouldn’t stop them having the occasional day checking caravans or trailers. Or, for that matter, cars. One thing guaranteed to wind me up is a hatchback car with several bicycles attached haphazardly to the boot on a rack, no trailer board, lights and number plate invisible from rear. Police and VOSA ignore them, yet will check my bike’s number plate with a tape measure to ensure it’s “legal” and sting me for thirty quid if it isn’t; and don’t get me started on the cars with only one working headlight.
gnasty gnome:
Happy Keith:
The law probably exists already - there’s no need for extra stuff to be ignored - but the precious few national & local law enforcers (whether they’re plastic or real plod) are busy - or ‘training’ - elsewhere with their scant resources.That shouldn’t stop them having the occasional day checking caravans or trailers. Or, for that matter, cars. One thing guaranteed to wind me up is a hatchback car with several bicycles attached haphazardly to the boot on a rack, no trailer board, lights and number plate invisible from rear. Police and VOSA ignore them, yet will check my bike’s number plate with a tape measure to ensure it’s “legal” and sting me for thirty quid if it isn’t; and don’t get me started on the cars with only one working headlight.
Or brake lights!! I’ve stopped counting how many (even ‘very new’ cars) only have the middle eye level one working!
I just hate to winde pepole up, but look no mirror’s roll on summer. 
or should i take this to France & annoy the frogs 
Tin hat & all that at the ready bombs away!!! load the guns Muckaway
Hooray!!! Hooray!!! Have A Happy Holiday
Gotta be the worst cab design EVER!!!
Horrible, noisy, uncomfortable things.
and the one with the 6 cyl engine and long bonnet was even worse!
gnasty gnome:
‘… and don’t get me started on the cars with only one working headlight…’
Alright, that’s understood