THE CARAVAN Club, which represents the interests of more than 750,000 caravanners, has assembled a list of facts and figures.

Organisers say there is always a risk of misinformation, bias and half-truths spoiling the story of what is an enjoyable leisure pursuit for over one million people.

The Caravan Club puts the record straight with the following facts:-

1 The accident rate for caravans is very low, 0.08 per cent of all notifiable accidents in 1996 (eight in 10,000), and this rate has fallen 20 per cent since 1991.

2 There are about 500,000 touring caravans in use, but some 23 million cars. Cars make up some 90 per cent of all vehicles on the road.

3 24,000 caravans were made for the UK market in 1997, compared with 21,000 in 1996, and 67,000 in 1972.

4 There are 2,723 full size caravan parks with touring pitches in Britain, 199 of which are Caravan Club sites. Club members also have the sole use of some 3,000 Certificated Locations (small five van sites on farms, etc).

5 Germany is Europe's leading producer of caravans, followed by the UK with France in third place.

6 Cars towing caravans were once limited to just 40 mph on main roads in the UK, wherever the maximum gross weight of the caravan exceeded the kerb weight of the car. In 1984 this was raised to 50 mph without restriction on weights. The present UK limit is 60 mph on motorways and dual carriageways, and 50 mph elsewhere.

7 On a five mile stretch of single carriageway roads, the average reduction in speed caused by being in a queue behind a caravan is just 0.6 mph.

8 Caravanners support the local economy wherever they go, and spend an average of £140 per trip on local purchases, in addition to pitch fees and fuel.

9 The Club keeps dimensions and weights of nearly all cars and caravans made since 1972, some 23,000 different models, to help members choose a safe and stable combination.

10 A Land Rover Discovery (with ABS brakes) towing a 1000kg caravan can top from 60 mph in just 62.4 metres. The suggested figure from the Highway code for a solo car at the same speed is 55 metres.

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