Towing - Is a breakaway cable a legal requirement?

[WildGoose]

Inherited a home made trailer from an old chap at work, who has no need for it any longer, its a nicely put together bit of kit, braked single axle, cortina wheels.

Was wondering (because there isnt one fitted) if I needed to use a breakaway cable when towing it?

Can't find a decent page with car trailer construction and use regs.

Any input appreciated, ta.
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[carvell]

I'm faaaaaaaairly sure that it's a requirement for trailers over a certain weight.

This is only based on a traffic cops episode though!
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Yamaha TDM 850

[steve32]

yea a brake away cable is needed when towing coz its linked to the brakes on the tailer so if it falls off the towbar its brakes will come on automatically
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suzuki GSX 600F katana .: ~my bike up for sale~ :.
CBT = Completed
DAS= Working on it - theory test = Passed

[panrider_uk]

See section H
https://www.ntta.co.uk/law/trailers/brakes.htm

Trailers over a certain weight must have their own brakes fitted.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[Phoenix]

I don't think it applies to those little trailers you get, as there was one at the side of the M5 yesterday afternoon, didn't see a car futher down so don't think he realised. J9 Southbound Tewkesbury if anyone wants a free trailer.

[carvell]

Can't imagine those little ones have brakes though do they?

Perhaps it's an "if it has brakes it must have a breakaway cable" rule. I'm just speculating though.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Ste]

Think carvell is right.

https://www.armitagetrailers.com/trailerlaw.htm

And from caravan club website.

"UK LAW requires that all trailers with brakes built
on or after 1st October 1982 (e.g. caravans, horse
boxes, flat bed car trailers etc.) are fitted with a
safety device to provide protection in the unlikely
event of the separation of the main coupling while
in motion. A device referred to as a "breakaway
cable" fulfils this requirement and when fitted to a
trailer its use is mandatory"

[WildGoose]

Thanks folks

Also found something about a "secondary coupling" for non brakes trailers, that keeps the towbar off the ground if it fails, and still provides you with some residual steering if the towbar fails, also mandatory it seems.
____________________
So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976