What Safety Device Must be Fitted to a Trailer?
In this article
What Safety Device Must be Fitted to a Trailer?
When towing, you must fit a breakaway cable to your trailer’s braking system. A breakaway cable activates the trailer’s brakes if the trailer becomes detached from the towing vehicle. The breakaway cable will snap once the trailer has stopped.
What is a Breakaway Cable
A breakaway cable is a safety device attached between the tow vehicle and trailer. One end of the cable remains on the tow vehicle, and the other is attached to the bottom of the trailer’s handbrake. The cable runs through a guide which keeps the cable straight and stops the trailer from swinging to the side if it ever becomes detached.
The breakaway cable is an essential safety device. It should be the first thing on your trailer and the last thing to come off. Your trailer could end up causing a serious accident if it detaches from the towing vehicle and you haven’t secured it with this cable.
What Happens if The Trailer Becomes Detached?
The trailer will gradually slow down if it becomes detached from the towing vehicle. As it slows down, the cable pulls on the trailer’s handbrake. The further the trailer falls behind, the harder it pulls on the handbrake. Eventually, the cable will pull hard enough, and the handbrake will activate and stop the vehicle. Once the trailer stops, the cable will snap in two.
How to Connect a Trailer Breakaway Cable
- Run the cable through the guide and into a hole on the towbar, then clip the cable back onto itself.
- Avoid clipping the cable directly onto the towbar as the breakaway cable will not activate the handbrake if you’ve attached it in this way and the trailer uncoupled.
- If you can’t find a suitable hole on the towbar, run the cable around the neck of the towbar.
- If you’ve attached safety chains to your trailer, make sure there is less slack in the cable than in the chains. If the cable is longer than the chains, the brakes may not activate if the chains snap.
- Make sure there is enough slack in the breakaway cable. If the cable is too short, it could activate the trailer’s brakes when you turn or change direction.
- Do not weave the breakaway cable within the safety chains or have it long enough to touch the ground. If the cable is damaged or tangled, it could malfunction when you need it most.
Breakaway Cable – A Safety Device Fitted to The Trailer Braking System
What Are The Legal Requirements?
You must fit breakaway cables to the braking system of any trailer, caravan or RV with a maximum technically permissible laden mass (MTPLM) of between 750kg and 3500kg. In addition to this, if the trailer has a braking system, you must fit a breakaway device to the system.
If a police officer stops you and you do not have a breakaway cable attached, you could receive 3-points on your driver’s licence and a fine of up to £2,500.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trailer Safety Devices
Connect the breakaway cable to the towing vehicle before connecting both vehicles. If you hitch up without a breakaway cable, you could lose control of the trailer while connecting the two vehicles, and cause a serious accident.
As a safety device, the breakaway cable works best when it’s secured to a designated mounting point on the towing vehicle or hooked around the neck of the towbar and clipped back onto itself.
Make sure the breakaway cable is secured in a straight line, as this is when the device works most effectively.