The law regarding towing mirrors
When it comes to the use of mirrors when towing a caravan, the law is very clear. You must be able to see 20 metres behind the towed vehicle and four metres at either side. This means that if your caravan is wider than your towing vehicle, additional towing mirrors MUST be fitted. Once fitted, towing mirrors must not extend out further than 25cm from the width of your caravan.
The consequences of breaking this law are equally clear as you run the risk of 3 penalty points, a police prosecution and a fine of up to £1000 for each mirror infringement. Additionally, if you are not compliant, your insurance company may choose not to pay out in the event of an accident claim.
Types of towing mirror
There are some towing mirrors that mount on to the car door by slotting into the space between the side window and the window rubber. They can be adjusted from the driving position and cause less vibration than wing-mounted mirrors.
The majority of towing mirrors, however, are fixed onto your existing car mirrors, making them a cost effective option. Fixing methods vary from strap, clamp and also suction.
Suction pad mirrors
While some caravanners report a better fit with the suction mirrors, as well as less vibration at high speeds, this type of mirror will obstruct the view from the existing mirror. However, a big disadvantage of this type of fixing is similar to that experienced with portable sat navs that are attached to the windscreen via a suction cup – the slightest bump in the road could cause them to fall off.
Strap mirrors
This type of towing mirror is fairly universal and can be transferred from towing vehicle to towing vehicle; a new car will not mean new mirrors as all you need to do is adjust the straps. With this type of mirror, the straps attach to the top and bottom of the existing wing mirror and are tightened with a rotating handle. The rubber straps will not scratch your paintwork and are stable due to the large surface area that is in contact with the wing mirror. One disadvantage with the strap mirror could be related to the shape of the tow car’s wing mirrors. A more aerodynamically shaped wing mirror, which is smaller and has drag-reducing creases may not be as suitable for this type of strap as a rounder mirror with a smooth radius.
Clamp towing mirrors
As the name implies, these mirrors attach with clamps to the towing vehicle’s wing mirrors. A rubber pad prevents the clamp from slipping off the wing mirror. This is a widely preferred type of towing mirror as it offers maximum stability, remaining in place even when going over deep potholes.
Flat Vs. convex mirrors
Some towing mirror manufacturers offer their mirrors with a choice of flat or convex mirrors and the choice is a matter of preference. If you are replacing old mirrors, pick the same type again as you will be familiar with them. If you are buying towing mirrors for the first time, it is worth considering that a convex towing mirror will give a wider view, which is great, but may be misleading with distance. For example, a car approaching at a constant speed from behind will appear to be travelling at a constant speed in a flat mirror, but the same car viewed in a convex mirror will seem to travel faster as it approaches. Drivers who are unused to this could find it difficult to judge the time and space required to carry out manoeuvres. The caveat here, however, is that most modern towing cars now have convex wing mirrors so drivers are aware of this phenomenon.
Not all towing mirrors can be fitted to all cars but all towing mirrors must be e-marked (upper or lower case) to show compliance with safety regulations. This applies to all cars registered after January 26th 2010.
Finally, on arrival at your destination and when you have unhooked your caravan, remove your towing mirrors as it is an offence to drive with them when not towing.
Our range of towing mirrors can be found here and if you have any questions, our staff will be happy to answer your enquiries here.
