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Richardson Rice Trailers, from its headquarters and factory near York, has launched a campaign in its local area to increase trailer safety on the roads of North Yorkshire.

The initiative was prompted by a discussion in the service and repair bay of the factory, regarding the condition of some of the trailers that had been brought in for work recently.
The observation was made that many of the trailers, prior to being brought in, might not have been considered roadworthy, if they had been stopped and examined by the local Constabulary.

The discussion went on to question trailer owners' perceptions of their trailers, concluding that many people, in the absence of any Government legislation, demanding that trailers are maintained to a set level of roadworthiness, as in the M.O.T. test for motor vehicles, often neglect the maintenance of their trailers, albeit quite innocently.

However, to say that the neglect was quite "innocent" would be misleading. Whilst the neglect might not have been deliberate or malicious, in the eyes of the law, once a trailer is attached to a vehicle, that trailer becomes part of that vehicle, and as such, must be roadworthy, just like the vehicle.

Following some research on the internet, the company was horrified to learn of the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads in the U.K. caused by accidents involving defective trailers. Between the years of 2002 and 2006, 289 deaths and a staggering 1760 serious injuries were recorded on our roads.

Faced with these horrendous figures, the company felt obliged to do all that it could to promote road safety in the local area, by encouraging responsible trailer ownership through regular maintenance.

Managing Director, Graham Hall, explains; "Given our unique position in the locality, of being the only Company in the area with over fifty years of experience in building and maintaining trailers, we feel that we are in an ideal place to offer the public the advise and guidance that they need in this matter. Nobody wants to cause an accident, never mind a serious injury or fatality, just because they didn't realise the importance of regularly maintaining their trailer, and we want to help people with that.

"That's why we are offering every owner of a trailer, up to 3500kg gross weight, a free multi-point trailer safety check. Everybody is invited to bring their trailer along to the factory, for us to have a look at. We will examine all the major components of the trailer, from the coupling, brakes, wheels and tyres, and lights, to the trailer's chassis and general bodywork, and comment, in our professional opinion, as to the roadworthiness of the trailer. In the absence of any Government legislation, we are powerless to force people to have their trailer repaired if we believe it needs it, but we are hoping that common sense, and a feeling of communal responsibility will prevail.

"We cannot understand why trailers are not governed by the same type of tests as motor vehicles, given their obviously lethal potential. Having read the reports and blogs that we found on the internet, detailing some of the atrocious accidents that have been caused by defective trailers, we passionately feel that something should be done. Inspired by one local councillor form Derbyshire who, following a death of a four year old boy in her constituency caused by a defective trailer, has lobbied her local M.P. to petition parliament, seeking a test for trailers similar to the M.O.T. test for motor vehicles, and succeeded in securing a promise from the Under-Secretary of State for Transport that the topic will be reconsidered by the Department, we intend to collate our findings from the free safety checks, and will pass these on to our local M.P., for them to once again raise the matter in the House Of Commons for further debate. We just don't want to hear of another fatality, heaven forbid on our own doorstep, due to a defective trailer, and have to say "I told you so". As well as being a manufacturer, we also run a large hire fleet, and we take great pride and care in ensuring all our trailers are safe for use on the roads, and we want to encourage the public to do likewise."

The initiative has been very warmly received by the local powers-that-be, with the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership, 95 ALIVE, giving it their full support. Partnership Co-ordinator, John Everson, of North Yorkshire County Council, said; "We are delighted that a local company shares our concerns over trailer safety, and is prepared to champion an initiative to address it. They will receive our support and co-operation wherever possible."

Anybody interested in learning more about trailer safety should click on the "useful links" tab, where they will find links to websites and blogs packed with more information.

To arrange an appointment to have your trailer checked, simply ring the office on 01904 470282, or if you are passing, pop in and, if we can, we will check your trailer there and then.