East Midlands

Around 300,000 small trailers are sold in the UK every year but it's thought there are many millions in occasional use.

Finlay Martin - died in a trailer crash.

Trailers under a weight of 3.5 tonnes currently do not need to undergo an annual MOT test.

The family of four-year old Finlay Martin, from Heage in Derbyshire, is campaigning for that to be changed after he was killed by a defective runaway trailer.

The Martins were hit from behind by a trailer which had broken free from a car.

Finlay's mother Zoe was also critically injured in the accident. But she's been able to recover - and summon up the strength to fight a safety campaign.

When it first happened, many thought it was a tragic one-off. But you don't have to look far to find details of other similar deaths in recent years.

The trailer which hit Finlay had brakes - but they didn't work. Its owner - and the driver who'd borrowed it - were both fined.

Tougher checks

Finlay's family want annual checks on trailers - just like an MOT for a car.

They've been supported by their local councillor for Heage and by an internet site calling for a change in the law, both in the UK and in America.

After Finlay's death Derbyshire police began looking into the state of trailers used to take rubbish to local tips.

At the moment, the law says only those built after 1997 need a chain to stop them running away if the main hitch fails.

A runaway trailer.

Over a year into the Martin family's campaign a breakthrough has been made.

The government is going to include checks on tow bars as part of the MOT for cars and vans - as a direct result of what happened to Finlay.

But it is already a reality in other countries. In New Zealand, the equivalent of just over £10 gets your trailer checked and on the road for half a year.

If the law gets changed in England, it will be 'Finlay's Law' - something positive which has come out of a tragic accident that could have been prevented.

SAFETY ADVICE

Anyone who uses a small trailer is already required by law to ensure it's in a road-safe condition.

The Vehicle and Operators Services Association (VOSA) issues the following advice for drivers using trailers...

BEFORE LOADING

* Where the trailer has brakes, it's recommended the trailer and load does not exceed 80-85% of the weight of the towing vehicle.

* Where the trailer does not have its own braking system, the trailer and load should not be over 50% of the weight of the towing vehicle and up to a maximum weight of 750kg.

AFTER LOADING

Before the start of any journey, the driver of the towing vehicle needs to ensure that:

* the load is distributed evenly and secure;

* the lights are undamaged and working correctly;

* a breakaway cable or secondary coupling is used;

* the tyre pressures are correct and the tyres are undamaged and the tread depth is legal (remember to also check the towing vehicle);

* the wheel nuts/bolts are tightened to the correct torque (remember to also check the towing vehicle);

* the trailer is correctly coupled to the tow ball or pin;

* the coupling height is correct;

* there are secure mudguards on the trailer.

ON THE ROAD

* Always keep within the legal speed limits, your capabilities and the road and weather conditions.

* If the trailer starts to snake or swerve, ease off the accelerator and reduce speed gently. This is an indication that you are going too fast or the trailer is wrongly loaded.

* Do not brake harshly on a bend as this will make the trailer unstable.

* Reduce speed in plenty of time when approaching any hazard.

Source: VOSA