Towing

[Matt16v]

Anyone know if you can you legally tow a car on a motorway with one of those fixed tow bar things?

Ta

[psgold67]

Regulation 12 of the Motorways Traffic (England & Wales) Regulations, 1982, as amended, excludes vehicles being towed from using the outside land of the motorway.
There is nothing in the Road Traffic Acts nor in the Motor Vehicles (Construction & Use) governing the use of tow ropes or rigid bars

For there to be a regulation against towing in the third lane of a motorway proves that towing in the other two lanes is allowed.

Furthermore Regulation 86 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (as amended) stipulates that a vehicle (which is legally classed as a trailer when under tow) may be towed by rope or chain which must be less than 4.5 metres in length and if in excess of 1.5m the rope or chain must be made "clearly visible to any other person using the road within a reasonable distance from either side". Nothing is mentioned again about rigids

so i would say yes, as long as the vehice is clearly marked wiht a tow board for lighting and an On Tow sgn to warn other motorists

Paul

[Soneji]

over taking slower vehicles whilst towing another?

[Matt16v]

Wow, nice one mate, thats got to be the most concise answer ever!

Cool, im going to pick one of those up this weekend then.

[psgold67]

Originally Posted by Soneji

over taking slower vehicles whilst towing another?

okay as long as its not in the fast lane, also you are limited to 60mph in a 70 zone and i think its 40 on dual carriageways but cant find my book for the rest - had it a minute ago :-)

okay found it

built up areas - 30mph
single carriageway - 50mph
dual carriageway - 60mph
motorwat - 60mph


these are maximums not the speed you have to sit at

Paul

[Wicked Neo]

Neal wont like to remember this but I towed his old chamade down the M1 for about 70 miles a few years back with a rope!
We stuck to the inside lane and around 50 mph.

[Matt16v]

Wierd, i was always under the impression it was absolutely illegal to tow on the motorway. Then i thought maybe the AA etc use a Tow Bar on the Mway so surely it must be legal. Dont fancy it with a rope though i have to admit! Its about a 2 hour journey as well, probably longer at 'towing speeds!' (80mph)

[renig]

i towed my old valver from kent to south wales ( 3hr 30mins ) no stopping, no cigs, on a bar, tied to the clio with 12 cable ties, was well fun lol...

towing is a bitch...teaching towing is harder lol

[mals]

Si wont want to remember but I towed his valver in the cabby down the M!. I think we used the hard shoulder.

[Wicked Neo]

You did not tow it, it was after FCS 2006, Neal sped off down the M1 in his chamade, i was behind him and you behind me, my temp gauge suddenly dropped to zero for a few seconds then when it came back on, it was way in the red and we pulled onto the hard shoulder, let it cool down then went down to the services, whacked more coolant in it and drove home at about 60 mph where we split up at the A127 so nuh

[reevio]

towing at 30 is fast enough for me i wouldnt like to go any faster and ropes are shit

[reevio]

off topic 300 posts woohoo do i get an award

[The T.I.B.]

Originally Posted by reevio

off topic 300 posts woohoo do i get an award

Yes of course

A big hug and a sloppy kiss from ChetT16

[Chris H]

Originally Posted by Wicked Neo

Neal wont like to remember this but I towed his old chamade down the M1 for about 70 miles a few years back with a rope!
We stuck to the inside lane and around 50 mph.

when my mum popped the red cars 16V engine last year my sister arrived rather pissed off and towed us home with her laguna with a rope 170 miles along the motorway, managed over a ton more than once