Breakaway cables

If you're new to caravanning then it's important to know about breakaway cables - a steel cable that is designed to bring the trailer or caravan to a halt in the unlikely event the towed unit becomes unhitched. There are two main ways to correctly attach the breakaway cable.

Disclaimer

This advice does not apply to unbraked trailers up to 750kg GVW which are required by law to have the use of a secondary coupling.

A secondary coupling should keep the trailer attached to its towing vehicle even if its main coupling becomes separated.

The guidance set out on this page is provided for general guidance purposes only, and does not purport to be legal advice or a definitive interpretation of the law.