Breakaway Cable Attachment in Holland

GTP replied on 01/05/2018 17:57

GTP

Posted on 01/05/2018 17:57

I don't know why...but it appears the various Vehicle Inspection agencies throughout Europe have a delight in pulling me over to inspect my outfit. I mean its not as if we have old vehicles, or exceed the speed limits of the country. The tow car is 1yr old and the caravan is just 6 mnths old.

The latest such inspection was on Saturday around 3-0pm on the A15 just 5 miles short of the Rotterdam Europort ferry terminal (We were scheduled on the overnight ferry to Hull)...when out of nowhere appeared a police motorcycle, waived and pointed to his 'Follow Me' sign...which i duly did following him off the next junction, around a couple of roundabouts to a vehicle inspection station...full of Caravans and Motorhomes.

First up was the request for driving licence, V5 for both car and caravan. No problem, even accepting the electronic version on the OH iPhone. (although one Police Officer wasn't convinced but let it pass) Note to self, take copies of V5's...Next was to move onto weighing pads, both car and caravan, checked against plates...No problem, Phew !!!...then asked to pull into next bay where the car and caravan where given a roadworthy test, you name it they looked at it. No problem , passed with flying colours..as being new vehicles, should have.

But then wait...hold the phone, one of the inspectors pointed to the breakaway cable....At this point I will refer you to my previous post and encounter with the UK equivalent inspectors when i was issued a prohibition notice for incorrect attachment..later squashed when the the club intervened...It was at that point that I also changed to the direct attachment ALKO specific cable. This is what I had in place when inspected..a direct attachment to a designated fixing point.

Not good said the inspector....must be looped trough a karabiner...which he produced, fitted and charged me 4€...followed by a police officer issuing me with a ticket (to be sent) for incorrect attachment of breakaway cable...Some one on the ferry said the fine could be 130€. The ticket has yet to arrive so I cannot post a photo but I attach a photo of the karabiner the inspector fitted....

Happy caravanning ...

Gallery

114 replies

Tigi replied on 01/05/2018 20:53

Member

Tigi

Posted on 01/05/2018 20:53

I bet a few would not have passed! I was pulled over enroute to the ferry at the Hook on a Sunday morning around 11am along with many others and given a breath test, I also passed.

DavidKlyne replied on 01/05/2018 22:24

Moderator

DavidKlyne

Motorhomer from Buckinghamshire

Posted on 01/05/2018 22:24

I assume your breakaway cable on the caravan is not of the carabiner type? Your van is pretty new and I thought all 2018 models had this attachment?

David

Oneputt replied on 02/05/2018 07:32

Member

Oneputt

Caravanner

Posted on 02/05/2018 07:32

Did you notice if all the vans were Brit registered or was there a mix?

GTP replied on 02/05/2018 08:07

Member

GTP

Caravanner

Posted on 01/05/2018 22:24 by DavidKlyne

I assume your breakaway cable on the caravan is not of the carabiner type? Your van is pretty new and I thought all 2018 models had this attachment?

David

Posted on 02/05/2018 08:07

David, Yes it was...and the even more substantial Alko part.... which I am told is made for direct attachment to a dedicated fixing point which I had done. The inspector simply unhooked my karibiner from the fixing point and replaced with another....then looped my cable through that karibiner. He just wouldn’t accept a direct attachment. See photo.

I think I need to contact the technical dept and have a chat.

GTP replied on 02/05/2018 08:11

Member

GTP

Caravanner

Posted on 02/05/2018 07:32 by Oneputt

Did you notice if all the vans were Brit registered or was there a mix?

Posted on 02/05/2018 08:11

There was a mix, and more frustrating was that a friend following a few miles behind didn’t get pulled... only one police motorcycle pulling over...couldn’t be in two places stat once..

EmilysDad replied on 02/05/2018 08:22

Member

EmilysDad

Caravanner

Posted on 02/05/2018 08:07 by GTP

David, Yes it was...and the even more substantial Alko part.... which I am told is made for direct attachment to a dedicated fixing point which I had done. The inspector simply unhooked my karibiner from the fixing point and replaced with another....then looped my cable through that karibiner. He just wouldn’t accept a direct attachment. See photo.

I think I need to contact the technical dept and have a chat.

Posted on 02/05/2018 08:22

I could be argued that clipping your breakaway cable to the caribina as shown is not a direct attachment to your car 🤔

DavidKlyne replied on 02/05/2018 10:02

Moderator

DavidKlyne

Motorhomer from Buckinghamshire

Posted on 02/05/2018 08:07 by GTP

David, Yes it was...and the even more substantial Alko part.... which I am told is made for direct attachment to a dedicated fixing point which I had done. The inspector simply unhooked my karibiner from the fixing point and replaced with another....then looped my cable through that karibiner. He just wouldn’t accept a direct attachment. See photo.

I think I need to contact the technical dept and have a chat.

Posted on 02/05/2018 10:02

I could understand if it was the sacrificial clip type but as you say the carabiner is strong enough to pull on the handbrake if the caravan detached from the car. If you do get a fine it might be worth contacting AlKo for their view on this as it does seem the Dutch are making it up as they go along!!! I assume they would have been happy if you had,had a large enough eye to put the cable through and clip back on itself, hence the supply of the extra carabiner?

David

SteveL replied on 02/05/2018 10:38

Member

SteveL

Motorhomer from Nottinghamshire

Posted on 02/05/2018 10:38

The whole thing seems a bit crazy. Last year I replaced mine with the carabiner type. Previously I had wrongly been using the clip type for direct attachment. As far as I am aware it is the caravan end that fails after pulling the brake on, not the car end. I seriously doubt a directly attached clip type would not be strong enough to do this, certainly the carabiner type would.

GTP replied on 02/05/2018 11:01

Member

GTP

Caravanner

Posted on 02/05/2018 10:02 by DavidKlyne

I could understand if it was the sacrificial clip type but as you say the carabiner is strong enough to pull on the handbrake if the caravan detached from the car. If you do get a fine it might be worth contacting AlKo for their view on this as it does seem the Dutch are making it up as they go along!!! I assume they would have been happy if you had,had a large enough eye to put the cable through and clip back on itself, hence the supply of the extra carabiner?

David

Posted on 02/05/2018 11:01

The Dutch are not the only ones...you may remember I posted on a similar inspection a couple of years ago when I was issued with a Prohibition order (at a service station) by the DVSA here in the UK. That issue was taken up by this club tech department and subsequently an apology was received and all my data was removed from DVSA computer. They sited an 'over zealous' inspector who would be offered 're training'...

As you say David, I think there is a misunderstanding by inspectors between the 'sacrificial' and 'non sacrificial' cables... I will certainly contact Alko, and this clubs tech dept for advice.

Aside..I think what is needed is an Euopean Directive to clarify this issue throughout the EU....I shall submit my findings and a request for such a Directive to my unelected representative in Brussels ....if i can find out who he/she is !!!

GTP replied on 02/05/2018 11:05

Member

GTP

Caravanner

Posted on 02/05/2018 10:38 by SteveL

The whole thing seems a bit crazy. Last year I replaced mine with the carabiner type. Previously I had wrongly been using the clip type for direct attachment. As far as I am aware it is the caravan end that fails after pulling the brake on, not the car end. I seriously doubt a directly attached clip type would not be strong enough to do this, certainly the carabiner type would.

Posted on 02/05/2018 11:05

Steve, Check out this link to Alko for specific cable designed for direct attachment...

Alko breakaway cable