26 Nov 2024 Jon-Paul PRIGENT · Prevention of Future Deaths report Derby and Derbyshire
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Concerns raised 3 Failure of current agricultural tractor and trailer safety arrangements to keep pace with changing road use View source Lack of periodic independent vehicle testing for tractors and trailers used on roads for agricultural purposes View source Failure to require safety features preventing decoupling of tractors and trailers used on public roads View source
Actions described in response An action is something this recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised. 2
Action
Operate the Agricultural Tractor-Trailer Scheme, combining roadworthiness inspections, brake performance testing, technician approval and refresher training.
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Action
Produce, update and disseminate guidance on legal requirements and practical measures for safe tractor and trailer braking.
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AI-generated summary
Jon-Paul PRIGENT · Prevention of Future Deaths report
This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.
Report summary
Jon-Paul Prigent died on 30 July 2020 when a soil-laden trailer decoupled from its tractor, overturned, and compressed the car in which he was sitting, causing asphyxiation. The principal concerns were the absence of periodic independent testing for agricultural tractors and trailers, the lack of required safety features to prevent decoupling, and the risks posed by worn, overloaded, and unevenly loaded equipment used on public roads.
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× Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure of current agricultural tractor and trailer safety arrangements to keep pace with changing road use
Wider context from the report “4. Tractors and trailers are increasingly large and carrying heavier loads due to farm consolidation and are correspondingly traveling further distances on public roads to reach more distant areas on larger farms, and agri-business depots and processing sites. The current safety arrangements have probably failed to keep up to date and relevant and were more suited to an era when agricultural use tractors and trailers might simply have been crossing a road to get form one field to another .
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Lack of periodic independent vehicle testing for tractors and trailers used on roads for agricultural purposes
Wider context from the report “1. Tractors and trailers driven on roads for ‘agricultural purposes’ are not subject to periodic independent vehicle testing . This places the responsibility for checking roadworthiness on the user which is clearly dependent on the diligence and competence of the user. It is therefore highly likely that some tractors and trailers are being driven on roads for ‘agricultural purposes’ in unroadworthy and unsafe condition , as was clear in Mr Prigent’s inquest.
” Open source report × Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. The report was sent to British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association; that does not assign responsibility.
PFD Monitor interpretation Failure to require safety features preventing decoupling of tractors and trailers used on public roads
Wider context from the report “2. Tractors and trailers driven on roads at below a speed of 25 miles per hour are not required to be fitted with safety features to prevent decoupling (e.g. a safety chain, or dual safe braking system) . Therefore, if decoupling occurs there is nothing to prevent independent and uncontrolled travel of the trailer .
3. Basic hitch hook and ring coupling systems for tractors and trailers are very simple and convenient for ease and speed of coupling and use on farms but present clear risk when used on public roads without safety features to prevent decoupling .
” Open source report
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Operate the Agricultural Tractor-Trailer Scheme, combining roadworthiness inspections, brake performance testing, technician approval and refresher training.
Verbatim wording from the response “While there is no requirement for the roadworthiness of tractors and trailers to be independently tested, BAGMA does operate a voluntary scheme. The Agricultural Tractor-Trailer Scheme (ATTS) incorporates both roadworthiness inspection and brake performance testing in one package. In our view, the ATTS is the only testing regime that provides a robust assessment of the roadworthiness of agricultural tractors and trailers as no other scheme incorporates brake performance testing alongside roadworthiness inspection.” Source location Response from Agricultural Engineers Association and British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association
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Source evidence
How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Produce, update and disseminate guidance on legal requirements and practical measures for safe tractor and trailer braking.
Verbatim wording from the response “Recognising that much of the responsibility for ensuring the safety of tractor and trailer braking rests with the user and the service technicians that support them, the AEA has produced detailed guidance on both the legal requirements and the practical steps needed to ensure that braking systems are safe and well maintained. Our Look Behind You guide was first published in 2010 and was updated in 2020, incorporating interactive elements, such as short videos and animations, helping to improve understanding of key aspects of safety. The guide has been widely distributed through machinery dealers and is also available online at: https://aea.uk.com/look-behind-you/. It was supported by most of the main suppliers of tractors and agricultural trailers to the UK market.” Source location Response from Agricultural Engineers Association and British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation The Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for deciding whether to amend legislation on agricultural tractor and trailer safety requirements.
Verbatim wording from the response “While roadworthiness testing would go a long way to addressing the concerns identified in this case, the coroner’s report also identifies deficiencies in the current legislation around use of agricultural tractors and trailers on the road. The AEA and BAGMA would support changes to legislation, in particular to address the current lack of any requirement for either ‘Breakaway Failsafe’ trailer brakes or a secondary coupling (such as a safety chain) between the towed and towing vehicle, if the vehicles don’t exceed 40 km/h. Of course, any decision on amendments to legislation rests with the Secretary of State for Transport. However, the AEA and BAGMA stand ready to provide any advice required to inform that decision.” Source location Response from Agricultural Engineers Association and British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association
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Source evidence
How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation The Secretary of State for Transport must decide whether to introduce compulsory roadworthiness testing for agricultural tractors and trailers.
Verbatim wording from the response “Turning to future actions, as the coroner’s report notes, there is currently no requirement for independent roadworthiness testing for agricultural tractors and trailers, where they are solely used for agricultural activities. The AEA and BAGMA have long supported calls for such a regime to be introduced, particularly for the larger and heavier vehicles that are now commonplace. While any decision on making such a scheme compulsory must be made by the Secretary of State for Transport, AEA and BAGMA would be happy to offer to take the lead in administering a scheme.” Source location Response from Agricultural Engineers Association and British Agricultural and Garden Machinery Association
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Information checked against published PFD reports and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations