It's frightening that most people when asked what to do if their caravan starts 'fishtailing' (wagging) think they should accelerate to pull it straight, when quite the opposite is the correct approach.

The hours spent driving would suggest to me more of a reason to provide adequate training rather than less. Only using a vehicle configuration for a relatively short time doesn't mean they are less likely to kill someone! In the UK, particularly in Wales and Scotland, they are usually on narrow country lanes... more of a reason to provide appropriate testing for both the driver and the trailer.

I'm with GUEST PeterC on this - I frequently see what's left of caravans (and cars) when something has gone horribly wrong. Mind you, it's fair to say we have an alarming number of overturned lorries in the Manchester area...

Dick - the lad who wrote off my car (and his) was a new driver on a motorway... the accident could easily have been fatal, as I rammed the passenger door of his car. The traffic cop who attended the incident told the lad he would treat it as a 'momentary lapse of concentration' an not press charges as no-one was injured. He also told him to accept responsibility for the accident when reporting it to his insurers (he'd had the car two weeks and was on his father's insurance)... so I'm in a good position to refute your argument!!

In Ireland, I believe they have been running the 'P' plate scheme for at least forty years...