Towing Trailers Safely
As the summer holidays are approaching, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is urging drivers to make sure their trailers, caravans and horseboxes are safe and legal.
The DVSA #TowSafe4Freddie campaign was launched in November last year and has been calling on drivers using a trailer to perform basic safety checks following the tragic death of 3-year-old Freddie Hussey.
Freddie was walking with his mother in Bedminster, Bristol, when a two-tonne trailer became detached from a Land Rover. The trailer mounted the kerb before hitting Freddie.
The investigation into Freddie’s death found that the trailer’s handbrake lever was in the wrong place.
Freddie’s parents are urging all drivers to carry out basic safety checks each time they tow a trailer to avoid further tragedies.
The guidance includes important information on checking:
- the towball and connections
- wheels and tyres
- lights and indicators
- loads and weight limits
The rules on what you can tow are different depending on when you passed your driving test and many people will need to pass an additional practical test.
For more information on how to ensure that your vehicle and trailer are safe and legal please go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tow-a-trailer-with-a-car-safety-checks