A new government road safety campaign, launched nationally this week, highlights the tragic death of three year-old Bedminster boy Freddie Hussey in order to help improve the safety of towed trailers.
The campaign follows Bristol South MP Karin Smyth’s support for Freddie’s parents, Donna and Scott Hussey, who have been seeking improved trailer safety following their son’s death.
Freddie Hussey was killed in January 2014 as he and his mother walked home along Parson Street after dropping off Freddie’s older brother at school. A two tonne trailer towed by a Land Rover careered across the pavement, fatally crushing Freddie.
The Labour MP called a special Parliamentary debate earlier in the year and arranged a face-to-face meeting between herself, Mr and Mrs Hussey and Transport Minister Andrew Jones MP.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has produced a quick and simple online guide accompanied with short video to help people check if their trailer is safe and is targeting it at anyone towing small trailers, caravans, horseboxes and boats.
Karin Smyth MP said: “Freddie’s family have been determined that some good should come of their son’s tragic death and we welcome this new government campaign as a tribute to Freddie’s memory.
“When I first met with Donna and Scott they didn’t realistically believe their efforts could bring about change. That this campaign is now being run also underlines the value of their persistence and their refusal to allow Freddie’s death to be in vain. The local Bedminster community which has supported them through incredibly difficult times deserves a great deal of credit too.”
Transport Minister Andrew Jones MP said: “I was shocked and saddened by the death of three year-old Freddie Hussey – it is absolutely essential that drivers carry out a few quick and simple checks to make sure their trailer is safe, so we do not see a repeat of this awful tragedy. This campaign will help drivers to make sure they are towing safely and will save lives in the process.”
Links:
Information about the rules on towing a trailer
Information about safety checks you should carry out
A short video about these checks
To make sure you are using a trailer safely you need to:
• make sure the brakes are working correctly
• check that the lights are undamaged and working correctly
• check that the coupling height is correct
• use a breakaway cable or secondary coupling