East Midlands MEP vows to fight EU plan for caravan and trailer tests

Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin has vowed to do all she can in the European Parliament to resist proposals which would impose a cumbersome and intrusive inspection and testing regime for caravans and light trailers.

The European Union has drafted a raft of proposed legislation on vehicle safety testing which would hugely extend the scope of the current regime for MOT tests, as well as roadside tests on commercial vehicles.

Miss McClarkin, Conservative MEP for the East Midlands, said:

“Caravan enthusiasts and the caravan industry itself are extremely fearful. This proposed regulation will bring extra costs and inconvenience that could spoil their holidays and leisure time.

“It also poses a threat to ordinary householders occasionally using small trailers for jobs like taking garden waste to the tip.

“I am all in favour or improving road safety, but this is set to take our perfectly good British system backwards.”

The draft legislation includes proposals that could potentially ban some repair garages from also conducting MOT tests and for making caravans and light trailers (under 3.5 tons) subject to frequent MOT tests.

Miss McClarkin added:

“This proposed regulation is pointless and it would contribute nothing to improve road safety. It is accepted that our roads are among the safest in Europe.

“Caravans are generally well-maintained by their owners and used typically in good driving conditions with low annual mileage. I am pushing hard to protect the UK from yet more overly prescriptive, burdensome and unnecessary regulation from the European Commission.

“With so many caravan owners across the United Kingdom, not least the one million members of the Caravan Club, this industry is worth more than £6 billion a year. It contributes greatly to our local and national economies. This is an important part of our leisure and tourism industry which we should be encouraging, not penalising.”

“This proposal is typical of the European Commission: Over-burdensome, too prescriptive, and too costly.”