Licensing RVers---is it time?
Is it time to insist that a special license be needed for driving/towing larger recreational vehicles. I once asked a DOT complaint officer why a person renting a GVWR 26,000 (26' box) truck could ...
Forum Discussion
cbshoestring wrote:
My question is: If knowledge on airbrakes, towing, GVWR's, all that good stuff that commercial drivers must know in order to be licensed, is for the good of the public...How many of you would be willing to undergo, and even endorse, the same requirement for recreational vehicles to ensure greater public safety?
I'm not sure it should be limited to RV's.
In a good part of Europe you physically have to show up in person, with a vehicle, and take a road test to renew your drivers licence. If you don't pass the written and toad test, you don't get your licence renewed until you can, period.
In North America you can have a person who got their licence at 16 but lived in a big city and never drove again, then 50 years later retired, moved out of the city and started driving. Yikes!!!
But even beyond licensing their are other 'loopholes'. Up here in Ontario for instance ANY truck, trailer or combination of the two with a GVWR in excess of 9,900 pounds (4,500 KG) must be safety inspected annually and certified safe, period.
Except that is unless it's an RV or boat trailer then both the truck (presuming it's under 9,900 pounds GVWR) and the trailer are exempt
So in you have 1/2 ton (7,000 pound GVWR) and a box trailer (3,500 pound GVWR) you are over the threshold and both need to be inspected annually.
But if you have a 1 ton (9,900 pound GVWR) and pull a 10,000 pound GVWR camper, neither one ever has to be looked at.
Clever huh?
