Trailers in Europe

How about one of THESE and have a look at how they work http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X-NsNFDMdE

elaverty wrote: »

Whats it like at 120kph i wonder ?

I've seen quite a few in France and their motorway speed limit is 130 kph.
Remember these kind of 'trailers' can't sway or jack-knife like the regular type.

cir287 wrote: »

one thing to remember is that once you have a trailer attached your speed limit is 90km/hr, not 120 in this country. I am assuming its no different in europe.
might be worth looking at a carrier instead, if the bike is light enough to stick on it ???

Yes you are right.
However the following is a response I received from Minister Varadkar's office in response to a query if the speed limit for light trailers would be reviewed upwards as part of the current re-assessment of speed limits. For example, in France if the combined weight of a car/trailer does not exceed 3,500kg the speed limit is the same as a solo car.

From an engineering perspective, vehicles towing trailers are inherently less stable than those not towing trailers and hence, lower speed limits alleviate the possibility of a trailer “snaking” i.e. swaying from side to side which could possibly lead to a jack knife situation. Vehicle and trailer combinations are subject to reduced speed limits which takes account of this and also the ability of the vehicle to brake safely in an emergency situation.

As the reasons quoted for the requirement of the 80kph limit do not apply to the Ezetow type of 'trailer' is the limit enforceable in law.

There are a number of precedents where prosecutions have failed because it has been successfully shown that 'the offence' was not within the 'mischief' which needed to be addressed when the legislators were drafting the law.