MINISTER PLEDGES TO LOOK AT SAFETY TESTS FOR TRAILERS

MINISTER PLEDGES TO LOOK AT SAFETY TESTS FOR TRAILERS

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BY ALY WALSH
AWALSH@DERBYTELEGRAPH.CO.UK

09:30 - 24 January 2008

A Transport minister has pledged to investigate whether new regulations on trailers should be brought in following the death of a four-year-old Derbyshire boy.

Finlay Martin was killed last July when he was hit by a trailer that broke free from a car while he was walking with his mother in the village of Heage.

The trailer's brakes were later found to be defective and a cable, which should have activated the brakes when the trailer became detached from the vehicle, was missing.

Currently, trailers do not have to undergo any MOT-type test.

This week in the House of Commons, Amber Valley MP Judy Mallaber put a request to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Jim Fitzpatrick, on behalf of Finlay's grandparents and her constituents.

She asked him to investigate introducing an annual mandatory test of road worthiness and an MOT for trailers that are pulled by road vehicles.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: "Introducing MOT-style tests for such trailers is a possibility that we have considered before, and it is a matter that we keep under review.

"There have been several such accidents in recent months, and I will certainly consider the matter with officials in the department."

A petition started last August by Heage and Ambergate ward councillor Juliette Blake which calls for roadworthiness checks, similar to car MOTs, to be made compulsory for all trailers, has been signed by more than 600 people.

It also demands that trailers be registered to the vehicle that is towing them.

Mrs Blake was delighted about Mr Fitzpatrick's pledge.

She said: "This is a lot more positive than responses I have had previously and it sounds like a step in the right direction."

News of the investigation comes as figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that in 2006, 308 people were seriously injured and 52 people killed on UK roads in accidents involving trailers.

Mrs Blake had used the Freedom of Information Act to ask the Department of Transport for figures on the number of deaths and serious injuries involving trailers -, including caravans - on UK roads.

The figures also showed that in 2002, 56 people were killed and 406 were seriously injured; in 2003, 80 were killed and 371 seriously injured and in 2004, 54 were killed and 330 were seriously injured. In 2005, 47 people were killed and 345 seriously injured.

Mrs Blake said: "I'm amazed at the number of serious injuries and deaths a year, yet this and previous governments have totally neglected to do anything about it. People will continue to die until they do and I won't ever give up fighting for this."

Mrs Blake said she hoped some comfort could go to Finlay's family as a result of the campaign.

To sign the petition online, visit http://petitions.pm.gov . uk/Trailers/

House of Commons

House of Commons
Tuesday 22 January 2008
Oral Answers to Questions
TRANSPORT -Topical Questions
Judy Mallaber (Amber Valley) (Lab): Four-year-old Finlay Martin was tragically killed last July when he was hit by a trailer that broke free from a car while he was walking in the village of Heage with his mother. The deputy coroner at the inquest just held said that she would write to the Department for Transport to ensure that lessons were learned. Will my hon. Friend investigate seriously the introduction of an annual mandatory test of road worthiness and an MOT for trailers that are pulled by road vehicles, and for such vehicles to have mandatory brake systems, which did not happen in this case? That has been requested by Finlay’s grandparents and many of my constituents.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Jim Fitzpatrick: We are aware of this tragic accident, which occurred last summer. We extend our deepest sympathies to the parents and family of Finlay, who lost his life as a result of what happened. We want to make sure that when we introduce new regulations, they can be applied and they are appropriate. Introducing MOT-style tests for such trailers is a possibility that we have considered before, and it is a matter that we keep under review. There have several such accidents in recent months, and I will certainly consider the matter with officials in the Department to see whether we need to move on that.

Judy gets Transport Minister pledge on trailers

PRESS RELEASE


23rd January, 2008


Judy gets Transport Minister pledge on trailers

Following the coroners inquest on the death of four-year old Finlay Martin in Heage last July, Amber Valley MP Judy Mallaber has secured a commitment in the Commons from Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick to investigate whether new regulations on trailers could stop such tragedies in future.

Finlay was run over by a trailer that broke free from a car. The inquest found that the trailer was defective and not fitted with a breakaway cable and the brakes were faulty. Questioning the Minister in Transport Questions, Judy said the deputy coroner was writing to his Department to ensure lessons were learned from the tragic accident. She asked the Minister to investigate the introduction of an annual mandatory test of road worthiness for trailers pulled by road vehicles and compulsory brake systems as requested by Finlay’s grandparents and local residents.

Expressing his sympathies to Finlay’s family, the Minister said the introduction of MOT-style tests had been looked at before but pledged a further investigation with Department officials.

Judy said: “Dangerous trailers should not be allowed and the Minister said there had been several such accidents in recent months. I was able to talk to the Minister after Questiontime and understand that often such accidents result from poor driving or failure to attach a trailer properly. But I was pleased at the Minister’s commitment to me that his officials will examine whether action can be taken to prevent tragedies such as Finlay’s death where they result from faulty vehicles.”

ENDS