If you passed your driving test after January 1st 1997, you will NOT have the automatic right to jump into a vehicle and start to tow a trailer. In fact the rules are quite complex and can affect quite a lot of people.

To start your training we would focus on your general driving, in particular looking at:

• Your use of mirrors.
• Your general hazard planning and awareness.
• Your hazard awareness, linked to your use of speed and planning to slow/stop in good time.
• Your cornering technique, ensuring that you stay safe and take into account the considerable increase in length of your vehicle and trailer combination.

A lot of the focus on this part of the training is on forward vision and forward planning to prevent awkward situations developing, and a general revision of your driving skills as required.

Following this we would look at teaching the student the correct way to hitch and unhitch a trailer. This can be done in conjunction with a self help study sheet and can then be practiced on your own rig if you have access to one, thus reducing the amount of time you would need to pay us for practicing.

After that we look at the reverse manoeuver. This needs a fair bit of practice to get right as it is fairly complex but again, if you have access to a rig of your own and some off road space, then this can also be practiced by yourself. Self study material can be provided to help with practice.

How long this all takes will depend on the individual driver and their initial driving ability. It also depends on the intensity of the course that they wish to follow and how much practice the candidate can take in between sessions.