Anything can fail to trailers. Garage owners find that there is too little attention.
They want to see that there is a mandatory inspection, as in Belgium and Germany. But MOT trailers there is not currently in: the European Parliament believes it is not necessary and the Netherlands follow that guideline.
That anything could be wrong with a trailer, maintenance Gerrit Barten knows. He checks them for eleven years, just as he does with the trailer that now stands before him. "There is a lot to play. You just hear him." One pry the wheels is sufficient for the initial diagnosis.
Cracks in the tires
The owner stands apart and scares. Barten, his ear now closer, giving a big swing to the wheel. "I do not rattle them, so again fats and adjustment is sufficient." The owner is relieved, but not for long. The straps are full of cracks. They turn out to lie under 22 years."The advice is replaced after six years," says Barten. A downer, because the tires cost 75 euros each.
A new trailer for sale you 600 euros. For horse transport and boat transport there are special trailers. "What what is on may cost a lot. The thing it carries ... As long as it rolls, it rolls," vessel maintenance Barten the nonchalant attitude of the average trailer owner together.
The association for garage owners Bovag has long argued for a mandatory inspection, but that was lost in Europe. The ANWB, an association of motorists, got his way. Trailer Owners are not harassed in the Netherlands with a mandatory inspection.
"We see year after year at our controls, but also with police checks that many defects are detected," said Tom Huyskens of Bovag. "Recently, we checked more than fifty horse trailers. In half of the cases we saw that the brakes were faulty."
In addition to the samples Bovag there is no reliable recent picture of the number of accidents caused by defective parts. "There is research from 2002", says Ferry Smith ANWB. "And that's about five years before. This research shows that very few accidents are directly related to technical problems with trailers. And that does not give rise to introduce an MOT for trailers. Simply because the cost is not commensurate stand with the proceeds of such compulsory examination. "
(We've seen plenty of examples of the necessity for good maintenance.
Tom Huyskens (Bovag)Huyskens "But of course we see passing by often stories in the media come loose caravans, boats lying on the highway or horse trailers rollover There you will surely see that it is a problem.." Recently got four people dead as they entered their car and trailer with defective brakes in a canal.
If this issue gets more attention, it is good for road safety and for the garage owners. "Let us be clear: more control and maintenance is good for the companies we represent," says Huyskens. "But we have seen enough examples of the necessity for good maintenance. Consumers would it also have to take responsibility."
Since the ANWB agree. Trailer Maintenance, according to the union in the first place the responsibility of the owners. When it comes to government intervention, there are other priorities for the ANWB. "Think of cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians," said Smith."Those at high risk and we know far too little of it. If you compare that with the number of accidents with trailers, then we have to first do more work."
Current European rules can be changed again over three years for mandatory inspections.Then the Euro Parliament to submit new proposals.
By: NOS Editors: Photo: Reuters
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