HC Deb 06 July 1989 vol 156 c261W
Mr. Patrick Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the number of heavy goods trailers failing to pass the annual test.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

There has been a rising trend in the number of trailers failing the annual test over the period 1983–1988. A task force of experts from the Department and the industry was set up to investigate the reasons for failure.

Their interim report has been placed in the Library of the House. A final report will be produced later this summer.

The trailer failure rate appears to be more related to changes in requirements over the period in consideration than to a decline in standards of maintenance of trailers on the road.

Interim recommendations are:

  1. 1. to develop an acceptable method of testing the braking performance of unladen trailers;
  2. 2. to explore the scope for increasing the service brake force within the upper limits of the European Community requirements;
  3. 3. to provide advice to operators on good maintenance practice;
  4. 4. to undertake regular surveys of random samples of goods vehicles and trailers in use.

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