Got a friend trapped in the queue says it looks bad…thesun.co.uk/news/9811808/a … -lorry/amp
What was that about clowns driving trucks? 
A couple of weeks ago an ERF with a ride had a blowout on the A34 i think and ended up on the other carriageway, not good 
Wally Webb:
A couple of weeks ago an ERF with a ride had a blowout on the A34 i think and ended up on the other carriageway, not good
Sounds the same as this incident then, are they safe ■■
Beau Nydel:
What was that about clowns driving trucks?
I hate being right all the time. 
From everything I hear about those “showman travellers”, they don’t have to worry about VOSA, defect checks and the likes.
Unfortunately for the poor innocent soles caught up in this, the showman lot will likely get away without punishment. Or just bugger off while on bail due to “no fixed abode”.
Do they actually need a HGV licence or is that another clause they get around the rules?
Hopefully innocent parties not badly injured and will get full justice.
I’ve often wondered how they ‘get away’ with running well over length. He seems like they always do to have had a 45 foot trailer and a caravan behind it. How come that’s legal for them and not the rest of us. Also I wondered today, do they have to do the 6 weekly inspections or are they exempt from that too?
nomiS36:
I’ve often wondered how they ‘get away’ with running well over length. He seems like they always do to have had a 45 foot trailer and a caravan behind it. How come that’s legal for them and not the rest of us. Also I wondered today, do they have to do the 6 weekly inspections or are they exempt from that too?
My brother and his son run a fairground and their motors are maintained tip top but that cant be said of all of the others …
When I see fairground stuff it all looks clean and tip top. There seems to be a hairy a$$ed end of the trade too though.
trevHCS:
From everything I hear about those “showman travellers”, they don’t have to worry about VOSA, defect checks and the likes.Unfortunately for the poor innocent soles caught up in this, the showman lot will likely get away without punishment. Or just bugger off while on bail due to “no fixed abode”.
Do they actually need a HGV licence or is that another clause they get around the rules?
Hopefully innocent parties not badly injured and will get full justice.
Well what you hear is wrong of course they have to anser to vosa and yes they do need a hgv licence and they have to do the cpc course aswell if they are to blame for the accident which no one knows what caused it unless they was stood there watching at the time then they will be prosecuted.
You seem to struggle in seperating showman from travellers showman are totally different people from travellers showman operate and run a legitmate buisness they will have a fixed address its called the winter yards and they wont just dissapear like you presume.
Be very interesting to know how old the tyres are/were?
hanson:
trevHCS:
From everything I hear about those “showman travellers”, they don’t have to worry about VOSA, defect checks and the likes.Unfortunately for the poor innocent soles caught up in this, the showman lot will likely get away without punishment. Or just bugger off while on bail due to “no fixed abode”.
Do they actually need a HGV licence or is that another clause they get around the rules?
Hopefully innocent parties not badly injured and will get full justice.
Well what you hear is wrong of course they have to anser to vosa and yes they do need a hgv licence and they have to do the cpc course aswell if they are to blame for the accident which no one knows what caused it unless they was stood there watching at the time then they will be prosecuted.
You seem to struggle in seperating showman from travellers showman are totally different people from travellers showman operate and run a legitmate buisness they will have a fixed address its called the winter yards and they wont just dissapear like you presume.
Exactly. Showmen travel for their work but are not “travellers”.
They are settled for the off seasons and I can tell you that some of their cabins and lodges in the yards put many brick and mortar houses to shame.
They do answer to VOSA in fact they are probably at the top of VOSAs list. I remember a case from a while back where VOSA prosecuted and lost and appealed and lost and then appealed to the high or supreme court and were thrown out, all over a catering trailer if I remember.
Also many fine old vehicles that are very well maintained amongst the proper showmen.
Of course there are rogue elements as there are in any industry.
I grew up around this industry when I was very young my dad ran fairground bingo and arcades.
I would put money on the accident rates for showmen vehicles being well below other transport sectors pro rata such as haulage for example.
Skilled and careful drivers, especially considering the huge and complicated setups they can run.
Don’t know what happened in this instance but Trev you are full of it on this one pal
Like all trades there’s good n bad ,I cut a showmans lorry up that had tubeless tyres with tubes in amongst other issues .
Rules are very restrictive here compared with other parts of europe :-
Pardon me but I thought that we were in Europe.
The showmen have a very infuential lobby in Parliament based upon the fact that travelling fairs can be traced back reliably to charters in the 13th century. As a result there has always been a concern to preserve their way of life as revealed in the link. There was a DVSA proposal a couple of years ago to extend the vehicle testing regime to include showmens’ vehicles; this did not come about. There have been numerous court cases regarding whether Operators licensing regulations have been breached by a particular individual. In many instances the fitment of a generator, specialist bodywork or a ‘living van’ have turned out to be proof of entitlement to exemption.
As mentioned there are good and bad as in all walks of life. I think the point made about tyres is possibly going to be an important part of the investigation . Certainly the modern vehicle presents showmen with a challenge regarding the expense of maintenance and their technical knowledge. Things have changed dramatically over the course of the last 10-15 years, the likes of the Anderton and Rowlands vehicle have virtually disappeared now. The old guard too have given way to their sons or grandsons, along possibly with the realisation that vehicles of their category really do need to be travelling at Gardner pace.
Yes some good points, I have just got back from Dorset steam fair, among the modern rides the older lorries are in the minority now - all ten to fifteen year old FH Volvos, XFs, MANs etc. I do a bit of work now and then for a local show family with my low loader as they won’t risk taking something not A1 down the road.
alamcculloch:
Pardon me but I thought that we were in Europe.
Yes you are right, we are that little island on the edge of it, apparently we might be leaving soon but I will edit the post anyway. 
One can’t see much of it but the vehicle involved in this crash looks like a 1st Generation FH Volvo to me.