Section 5.8 - Towing

Section 5.8 - Towing

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Section 5 - Good driving practice

Print this page Section 5.8 - Towing

Section 5.8 - Towing

If you are towing another vehicle or a trailer (including a boat trailer or a caravan) remember the following points.

Make sure the tow bar or other towing device is strong enough and attached securely so that it does not break or become loose when used.
Make sure the safety breakaway cable is in place and secured.
Do not allow a distance of more than 4.5 metres (about 15 feet) between the vehicles or the vehicle and the trailer.
If more than 1.5 metres separates the vehicles, use some warning device such as a white flag of at least 30 square centimetres to draw attention to the tow bar.
If towing a vehicle that has its own steering gear, make sure somebody remains in it to take charge of the steering.

If towing a vehicle the person who steers it must hold a licence to drive the same category of vehicle.

Make sure a trailer is fitted with brakes if it has a gross vehicle weight of more than 750kg or is more than half the laden weight of the drawing vehicle (whichever is lower).

A combination of vehicles or an articulated vehicle more than 13 metres long must display a 'LONG VEHICLE' sign or signs on the back of the last trailer.

Make sure you mark any loads sticking out more than 1 metre to the back of the trailer with a red flag or marker board during the day. If you are towing this type of load at night, mark it with a red reflector and red lights.

If the load is sticking out to the side and you are towing it at night, mark it with a light or lights showing a white light to the front and a red lights to the back.