Family of Freddie Hussey, who was killed by a runaway trailer, welcome moves to improve safety

It was a terrible accident that took the life of a little boy, and changed the lives of his family.

Three year old Freddie Hussey was crushed to death by a three-ton trailer which broke loose from a Land Rover close to his home in Bedminster, south Bristol.

His parents, Scott and Donna Hussey, still bear the mental scars, but now the campaign they started to prevent similar tragedies, has finally achieved results.

Donna says: "We made a promise to Freddie that we would fight for him as best we could and we didn't expect to get this far, so the fact that we have, we feel we've kept our promise to Freddie and he didn't die in vain."

The couple, who have an older son, Archie, began a petition and Facebook campaign to highlight the dangers of runaway trailers. They also demanded tougher sentences. The driver, Tony Davies, was given a six month driving ban and community service, for causing death by careless driving. A court heard his trailer had a faulty brake, and had not been properly attached. After a debate in Parliament, a minister agreed to meet Freddie's parents.

Now the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency has updated best practice for businesses and changed the wording of its website on safety measures for towing trailers. All with the promise of more to come.

In a letter to the couple, Transport Minister Andrew Jones says the DVSA intend to continue with the awareness campaign over the next few weeks:"I will also be writing to my colleagues in the Ministry of Justice, asking them to consider that failing to prevent roadworthiness or secure fitting of trailers, should be included in their imminent review of driving sentences."

Freddie's father Scott, says this development has helped bring the family closure: "We still get the sleepless nights but this is a positive going forward for us to move on as a family. If we can make a change in the law and other people don't have to go through the stuff that we've gone through - that's great."

Bristol South MP, Karin Smyth, says: "I think the Government has made some significant changes. When we approached them last summer, they said there was no plans to make any changes, so I think through their really strong action on behalf of the tragedy of their son's death, it has really impressed upon the minister the importance of this issue. They have looked at it again and issued this guidance. I'm very pleased that they have had their voice heard."

The real tragedy is that it took the death of a little boy to get things done.