Are you fit to tow? Highways Agency advises caravanners at Westpoint Caravan and Motorhome Show

Highways Agency Traffic Officers will be providing help and advice to visitors at the Caravan and Motorhome Show at Westpoint in Exeter between Friday, March 19 and Sunday March 21.

Traffic Officers will be at the show between 9.30am and 4.30pm to help raise awareness of the safety risks involved when towing a caravan or trailer, as well as providing journey planning advice.

During 2009 in the South West the Highways Agency Traffic Officers attended 1065 incidents involving caravans/trailers. Of these, 62 per cent occurred between May - August. August had the highest number of incidents at 231.

Traffic Officers will be handing out copies of a new safety DVD, Fit to Tow, developed by the Highways Agency and presented by Carol Smillie, which features practical demonstrations on how to correctly attach your caravan or trailer, how to maintain it and what to check for to ensure it is safe to tow before you go.

They will also be distributing copies of Highways Agency magazine, Hitched.

Hitched is packed with advice for anyone planning to tow this summer - whether that's a trailer-tent, speedboat, caravan or horsebox - as well as advice for commercial towers such as builders, farmers and contractors.

Regional Operations Manager, Pete Martin, said, "Now we are heading towards the Easter holidays we are urging road users not to take their caravan or trailer out on the road without a proper maintenance check, especially if it has been left standing for most of the year.

"With a simple once-over before you set off, you could avoid breaking down and delaying not only your journey but other road users as well.

"If you're not sure then watch the DVD, read our Fit toTow leaflet or visit the Highways Agency website for more advice at http://www.highways.gov.uk/towing."

Traffic Officers deal with many towing-related incidents and support the police in dealing with them. As well as this, our Traffic Officers frequently come across drivers towing trailers without sufficient cover for breakdown and recovery.

For towing advice visit: http://www.highways.gov.uk/towing. To request a copy of the DVD or a hard copy of the accompanying leaflet, or for any other query please call the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30.