First reported 10 Jul 2015•Latest report 26 Sep 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes dedicated safety-system failures affecting agricultural tractors and trailers, including current guidance for road use, coupling and braking controls, safe extraction or recovery methods, maintenance safeguards and related operational arrangements where these directly control tractor-and-trailer risks.
Not included
Excludes generic agricultural staffing, training or record-keeping deficiencies unless they directly impair an agricultural tractor-and-trailer safety control.
Excludes ordinary farm operations, vehicle maintenance or road-user hazards where no tractor-and-trailer safety arrangement is identified.
Excludes general vehicle approval or road-infrastructure concerns not specifically tied to agricultural tractor-and-trailer safety.
Excludes unrelated trailer, vehicle or machinery hazards without an agricultural tractor-and-trailer connection.
Reports
4
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
5
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2015–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
11
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department for Transport2
Agricultural Engineers Association1
Bailey Trailers Limited1
British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association1
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency1
Health and Safety Executive1
Ministry of Defence1
National Farmers' Union (NFU)1
Ministerial department3
Private limited company1
Road and vehicle agency1
Trade association1
Workplace safety regulator1
Type not available1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Lack of legal requirements for servicing and maintenance of agricultural tractors outside road traffic requirements
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Continue monitoring the effectiveness of vehicle safety regulations to identify potential amendments.
Stated by Department for TransportStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 29 September 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
For private-land incidents covered by health and safety legislation, enforcement responsibility rests with the Health and Safety Executive.
Stated by Department for TransportRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Derby and Derbyshire
Concerns raised2
Failure of current agricultural tractor and trailer safety arrangements to keep pace with changing road use
Lack of periodic independent vehicle testing for tractors and trailers used on roads for agricultural purposes
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Operate the Agricultural Tractor-Trailer Scheme, combining roadworthiness inspections, brake performance testing, technician approval and refresher training.
Stated by Agricultural Engineers Association and British Agricultural and Garden Machinery AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 November 2024.
Action
Produce, update and disseminate guidance on legal requirements and practical measures for safe tractor and trailer braking.
Stated by Agricultural Engineers Association and British Agricultural and Garden Machinery AssociationStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 November 2024.
Action
Publish and make freely available guidance on the safe selection, use, inspection and maintenance of agricultural machinery, including tractors and trailers.
Stated by Health and Safety ExecutiveStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 November 2024.
Action
Instruct officials to examine further measures for ensuring the roadworthiness of tractors, trailers and coupling devices.
Stated by Department for TransportStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 28 November 2024.
Action
Continue monitoring the effectiveness of vehicle safety regulations to identify potential amendments.
Stated by Department for TransportStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 November 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
Use of agricultural vehicles on public roads falls outside HSE’s workplace health and safety enforcement remit.
Stated by Health and Safety ExecutiveOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
The Secretary of State for Transport must decide whether to introduce compulsory roadworthiness testing for agricultural tractors and trailers.
Stated by Agricultural Engineers Association and British Agricultural and Garden Machinery AssociationRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Public-road vehicle testing, safety features and coupling requirements are matters for DVSA or other appropriate organisations.
Stated by Health and Safety ExecutiveRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Annual roadworthiness testing was not extended to slower agricultural tractors because their road use was considered too limited to make it proportionate.
Stated by Department for TransportNo action considered necessaryThe respondent said that no further action was needed.
West Yorkshire Eastern
Concerns raised1
Lack of mechanical propping devices on agricultural trailers
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Design tipping trailers so routine maintenance does not require work beneath a raised body.
Stated by Bailey Trailers LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 October 2021.
Action
Manufacture all tipping body models with hinged mechanical body props as standard safety features.
Stated by Bailey Trailers LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 October 2021.
Action
Revise the Operation and Maintenance Manual to require safe deployment of body supports and prohibit work beneath an unsecured raised body.
Stated by Bailey Trailers LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 October 2021.
Action
Use safety decals to reinforce that users should not raise the trailer body unless necessary and securely supported.
Stated by Bailey Trailers LimitedStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 October 2021.
Exeter and Greater Devon
Concerns raised1
Failure to teach or recognise alternative trailer-extraction manoeuvres
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Review the training package and determine that additional recovery manoeuvres should not be taught to vehicle operators.
Stated by Ministry of DefenceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 10 July 2015.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Existing recovery arrangements restrict driver/operator recovery to available unit equipment, so additional manoeuvres need not be taught to vehicle operators.
Stated by Ministry of DefenceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Specialist recovery techniques and assistance are assigned to Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers personnel rather than ordinary vehicle operators.
Stated by Ministry of DefenceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
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Includes dedicated safety-system failures affecting agricultural tractors and trailers, including current guidance for road use, coupling and braking controls, safe extraction or recovery methods, maintenance safeguards and related operational arrangements where these directly control tractor-and-trailer risks.
