Poll: Does Australia need a national towing licence?

Before you hitch up the caravan or camper trailer and hit the road over Easter, ask yourself "are you ready?"

Do you know your tow ball down weight? Your tow rating? Your gross vehicle mass (GVM), or most importantly your gross-combination mass (GCM)? Have you checked your tyres, brakes, fluids and lights?

Many of you, who do this year after year, will answer yes to all the above. But I dare say some of you won't even know what we're talking about.

If not approached correctly, towing can be very dangerous, so why isn't any training or qualification required before you hit the road?

In some states, even as a P-Plater, you can jump straight from a small hatchback to a twin-cab ute with a 3500kg trailer without restriction. Furthermore, states that impose limits on first-year (P1) probationary drivers lift them for P2 drivers without additional training.

It's not only young drivers who are at risk either. Midway through last year, Queensland police conducted a blitz and found 9 out of 10 vehicles towing caravans were overweight.

With more and more Australians looking to local touring holidays that incorporate towing, is it time that we implemented appropriate training and qualifications to ensure drivers are towing safely?

Do you think we need a towing licence?

Complete the poll, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.