Government release trailer statistics

Nearly 4000 trailers (including 730 caravans) were checked by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) between 2019 and 2021.

The inspections carried out by the DVSA highlighted significant issues with many of the trailers and caravans. Of the 3,083 trailers (not a caravan) that were inspected, 50% were non-compliant, and 41% were issued with an immediate prohibition (defects so dangerous that repairs are required prior to re-use).

The data available shows that construction trailers had the highest prohibition rates (52%), compared to agriculture (32%), livestock (28%) and vehicle transporter (28%). However, analysts have advised that this data should be considered indicative rather than comprehensive due to the reporting constraints due to the pandemic - there is less data than anticipated relating to some areas.

Of the 3,083 trailers that were encountered (not including caravans), 4,031 prohibitable defects were found.

The reason for the trailers usage (private/commercial) was also noted during the inspection. 80% of trailers were used for work and shockingly 29% of them were issued with an immediate prohibition.

To read the full statistics: click here.

If used for work, then a trailer falls under the usual requirements of Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). These regulations stipulate that employees shall be provided with safe workplace equipment that shall be routinely checked to ensure it remains in a good state of repair. In addition, The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 specify the need for maintenance and use of vehicles so as not to be a danger to any person in or on the vehicle or trailer or on a road.

The statistics above are extremely concerning. Towing a trailer has been found to increase the severity of road traffic collisions, with approximately 20 collisions (2017) resulting in death were a trailer defect was a contributory factor to the collision - read more.

Both TakeAIM and Good to Go Safety enables a tag to be attached to a trailer (usually at the hitch or coupler point) and serves as a reminder to carry out a pre-use trailer safety inspections checklist before taking to the road. Both trailer safety inspections allows a run through of critical component checks including chassis, brakes, lighting, wheels etc as well as the load itself.

If the assurances provided by completing a trailer walk around check are not enough to convince you of the importance of safety maintenance checks, then the fact you can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving, and get 3 penalty points for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition should help to focus the mind further.