(1)The Secretary of State must prepare a report on the number and causes of road traffic accidents occurring in England, Wales or Scotland during the reporting period which—
(a)involved trailers, and
(b)caused injury or death to any person.
(2)The report must contain an assessment of whether—
(a)regulations under section 13 should provide for the compulsory registration of relevant trailers;
(b)regulations under section 21 should be made.
(3)The report must be laid before Parliament within the period of one year beginning with the day on which this section comes into force.
(4)In this section—
“relevant trailers” means trailers which are kept or used on roads and—
if constructed or adapted to carry a load, weigh more than 750 kilograms when laden with the heaviest such load;
otherwise, weigh more than 750 kilograms;
“reporting period” means a period determined by the Secretary of State, which must be a continuous period of at least 12 months ending no earlier than 18 months before the day on which this section comes into force.
(1)Regulations may provide for periodic testing of the construction, condition or safety of relevant trailers.
(2)The regulations may amend provision made by or under Part 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
(3)The regulations may, in making consequential or other provision as mentioned in section 25(1)(a), amend any Act (whenever passed or made).
(4)No regulations under this section may be made before the report is laid before Parliament under section 20.
(5)In this section, “relevant trailers” has the meaning given by section 20(4).