This legislation has been repealed.
(1) Where a trailer,
not being a pole-type trailer, is attached to a motor vehicle by means of a
coupling and drawbar that controls the movement of the trailer, the coupling
and drawbar, between the motor vehicle and the trailer, shall be so
constructed and fitted that —
(a) it
permits an adequate amount of angular movement between the alignment of the
motor vehicle and the trailer while in motion;
(b) the
strength of the coupling and drawbar is sufficient to draw the gross mass of
the trailer and its load;
(c) the
coupling is equipped with a manually operated mechanism so constructed as to
prevent accidental disengagement of the unit while in operation;
(d) the
positive locking mechanism prescribed by paragraph (c) is so designed
that it can be disconnected regardless of the angle of the trailer to the
towing motor vehicle; and
(e) the
brackets, or other means of securing the forward portion of the couplings to
the motor vehicle and the rearward portion of the coupling and the drawbar to
the trailer, are of sufficient strength to take the gross mass inclusive of
load, if any, of the trailer while being towed.
(2) In addition to the
coupling prescribed by, and fitted in accordance with the requirements of,
subregulation (1)(a) to (e), a safety connection, consisting of
2 chains, to hold the trailer in tow, in the event of failure or
accidental detachment of the trailer coupling, shall be so fitted to a
substantial portion of the motor vehicle and to the frame or other substantial
portion of the trailer that —
(a) it
is not liable to accidental disconnection and permits all normal angular
movements of the coupling, without more slack than is necessary;
(b) the
chains are as short as practicable and fitted in a crossed over position so as
to prevent the forward end of the drawbar from striking the ground in the
event of accidental disconnection of the coupling;
(c) the
forward ends of the chains are attached as near to the pivot of the coupling
as practicable; and
(d) the
chains conform to the size prescribed in column 2 of the Table to this
subregulation, for the corresponding gross mass of the towed trailer, caravan
or other vehicle, inclusive of the load, if any, as is specified in column 1
of the Table.
The Table
(3) Where hooks, known
as ramshorns, are used for attaching the chains referred to in
subregulation (2), the initial bend of the hook, at the point of
attachment, shall be upwards and be constructed of material of a diameter at
least 3 millimetres greater than the diameter of the chains prescribed in
subregulation (2)(d).
(4) Where rings and
shackles are used for attaching the chains referred to in
subregulation (2), the rings and shackles shall be made of steel of a
diameter at least as great as the diameter of the chains prescribed in
subregulation (2)(d).
(5) The provisions of
subregulations (2), (3) and (4) do not apply to a towed vehicle fitted
with breakaway equipment in accordance with regulation 603.