Mother Acts Over Trailer Death

Grieving mother calls for reform

The mother of a four-year-old boy from Derbyshire who died after he was hit by a runaway trailer is calling for MOT-type testing of all trailers.

Finlay Martin died in July 2007 from injuries sustained in the accident in Heage.

The Department for Transport has commissioned some research into the number of accidents involving trailers.

But it said there would be significant difficulties with MOT-type testing of light trailers.

Finlay was killed by a trailer which had become detached from the car towing it.

The driver was prosecuted for its condition.

Zoe Martin, who organised a petition calling for reform, said: "If that trailer had been tested Finlay would be here today because that trailer would not have been on the road because it was so defective."

In a statement the Department for Transport said: "It is not clear that the introduction of a requirement to retrofit breakaway cables or secondary couplings to older, lighter, trailers would necessarily have the benefits suggested in the petition.

"Equally, the fact that there is no statutory or comprehensive national record of when any light trailer was built or to whom it belongs means there would be significant difficulties with MOT-testing light trailers."

Still hope for MOT tests on trailers, says Mallaber

Wednesday, October 01, 2008, 07:30

AN MP says there is still hope that a campaign to introduce MOT-type tests on all trailers –- launched after the death of a four-year-old boy.

Labour MP for Amber Valley Judy Mallaber said reports that the tests would not be brought in were premature.

A campaign was launched by the family of Finlay Martin, who died in July last year after he was hit by a trailer which had become detached from a car in Old Road, Heage. He was walking with his mother, Zoe, who was seriously injured.

More than 1,500 people have signed a petition, set up by Amber Valley borough councillor Juliette Blake.

It called for reform but the Government appeared to reject the proposals yesterday when it said there would be "significant difficulties" in introducing a test.

However Ms Mallaber said research was ongoing and a final decision on MOT-type testing was yet to be made.

She said: "The Department for Transport has identified poor driving behaviour as one reason behind accidents involving trailers but further research has been commissioned and the Government is rightly waiting for its conclusions. It's not a closed door at all."

An investigation after Finlay's death found that the trailer involved had defective brakes and that a cable which should have activated the brakes when the trailer became detached from the car was missing.