Are towing mirrors mandatory

An interesting question as to whether a screen would be legal. The law is quite specific. 

To be compliant with the law, anyone towing a caravan must be able to see 20 metres behind them and four metres either side of the towed outfit.

As shown in the pic. Would your camera show this and even if yes would it be legal in law? And would looking at the screen be better or as safe than using a mirror? Can a rear view camera when solo take the place of wing mirrors?

Remember that a caravan camera cannot be a replacement for the towing mirrors required by law, and the two should be used together for maximum effect and legal compliance

Like I said an interesting question. I would get legal advice.

Corners has said it all and, as discussed recently, spot checks are carried out to see that we comply with the law when towing.  For the sake of a few pounds, nothing when compared to the price of a Jag XE, better to be safe than sorry. However, if you get legal advice please post the result for others to see.

Can a rear view camera when solo take the place of wing mirrors?

If you look at a Honda e (all electric car) it would appear so. But I don't know about Wolfies question but would suspect that mirrors would be needed to see down the side of a reasonably sized caravan.

Thanks, that is interesting I will have a look, so are there no mirrors at all (windscreen and door), or mirrors in the same places that are really cameras if you see what I mean?

Without Googling I can't now think if it still has a standard rear view mirror  but it definitely has cameras in lieu of door mirrors.

Honda E

Hi Wolfie.  It may be worth ringing the Tecnical Helpline or Legal Helpline (numbers on the back of the membership card).  They may be able to give a definitive answer.

David

Edit: just spotted you might not be a CAMC member - it's not coming up on your profile, but you may have joined and it's not showing on your profile yet.  You would need your membership number when ringing.... 

Good post 

I’ve seen modern lorries wIth no mirrors, only cameras.

The law states you must "have an adequate view of the road behind you" The parameters are set within the diagram posted by Corners, above.

So unless you can see clearly through your caravan to the road behind, you need towing mirrors.

I would still use extended mirrors in any case.

As for "electronic cameras, mirrors" etc I would see them as driving aides and not a replacement for ext. mirrors. Mr Plod is likely to take the same view and without further research, do these "aides" give the necessary field of vision, required by law?

Thanks all, the cameras are on the wing mirrors and do what towing mirrors do but only better and yes i can see in the cameras the illustration above, the central rear view mirror is not what i mean, hope that makes more sense