Towing vehicles is considered one of the most difficult road manipulations. We tell you how to do it correctly, what types of towing there are, and in what cases you cannot tow a car.
What is car towing
Cheapest Winnipeg Towing Company Future Towing is a process in which a moving vehicle pulls a disabled vehicle using auxiliary means: a cable, mechanical equipment, etc.
Thus, two vehicles are involved in towing:
- towing – the one that goes in front;
- towed – one that is pulled.
Towing must be carried out in accordance with the requirements specified in the traffic regulations.
General rules for towing a car
The car being towed is the same participant in traffic as other vehicles. Therefore, the following rules apply to it:
- mandatory equipment with state registration plates;
- The driver must have a license, vehicle registration certificate, and compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance policy.
There are several requirements for towing participants, which are set out in paragraph 20 of the Road Rules. Let’s look at each of them in more detail.
Speed limits
Clause 10.4 of the Traffic Regulations specifies the speed limit for towing a vehicle. It must not exceed 50 km/h.
Required driving experience
According to paragraph 20.2(1) of the Road Regulations, towing of a vehicle may only be carried out by persons who driving experience is more than two years. However, novice drivers may be behind the wheel of a towed vehicle – this requirement does not apply to them.
Use of additional lighting devices
The following lights may be used when towing:
- The vehicle in front has low beams, in accordance with the general requirements of clause 19.1 ;
- The rear vehicle has an emergency light (according to clause 7.1 of the Traffic Regulations ), as well as side lights in conditions of insufficient visibility of the road (according to clause 19.1).
If the hazard lights do not work, you should use the hazard warning sign. It is attached to the rear of the body of the faulty car.
The use of hazard warning lights on a towing vehicle is prohibited, as it is the vehicle that is responsible for turning on the turn signals and notifying other drivers of upcoming maneuvers.
Types of towing and requirements
There are three towing methods. Which one to choose depends on the following factors:
- type of vehicle breakdown;
- mass of the car.
Each type of towing has its own requirements. We will consider them in more detail below.
On a flexible coupling
Flexible coupling is towing a vehicle using a cable. Most often, this method is used to tow category B vehicles weighing no more than 3.5 tons.
The requirements for flexible towing are listed in Article 20 of the Traffic Regulations:
- There must be a driver in the rear car.
- The length of the cable between the front and rear vehicles should vary from 4 to 6 meters.
- The flexible connecting element between the cars should be marked with two flags with red and white stripes. The size of the square flags should be 20 by 20 cm.
On a rigid coupling
Rigid coupling is a Tow Truck Winnipeg Near me using mechanical equipment. It looks like this: one car is hooked to a faulty car using a metal structure and pulls it along while moving.
The metal structure itself used in the rigid coupling must comply with the requirements of +12045882055.
According to the document, it may differ structurally:
- have only one point of contact with the car – this is typical of a strong coupling mechanism that can pull a car weighing up to 50 tons;
- have several areas of adhesion to the vehicle – for mechanisms that are slightly weaker and can pull a vehicle of lesser weight: up to 15-30 tons, and so on.
The advantage of this type of towing is that the strength of the hitch allows you to tow even heavy vehicles.
Requirements for rigid towing are also specified in Article 20 of the Traffic Regulations:
- There must be a driver inside the towed vehicle. The exception is when the metal structure allows the rear vehicle to move in a straight direction along the trajectory of the front vehicle.
- The distance between two vehicles in a rigid coupling must not exceed four meters.
With partial loading of the car
When towing is prohibited
Towing is prohibited in the following cases:
- In conditions, the ban applies to flexible and rigid couplings.
- with the participation of two or more towed vehicles;
- If the towed vehicle has a faulty braking system, such a vehicle may only be transported using rigid towing when the weight of the vehicle in front is twice the weight of the faulty vehicle.
- If the steering is not working, it is permitted to tow such a vehicle only by partially loading it onto the base of another vehicle;
- for towing two-wheeled motor vehicles or bicycles;
- On motorways, if the car cannot accelerate more than 40 km/h, according to paragraph 16.1 of the Traffic Regulations.
Also, towing is prohibited if there is a sign 3.7 “No trailer allowed”.
This sign introduces a ban on towing mechanical vehicles.
Features of towing vehicles with different gearboxes
Cars can be towed in a special way depending on the different gearboxes. Let’s talk about what limitations each transmission may have. Future Towing Company also provides Battery Boost Service near me.
How to tow an automatic transmission
Unlike a manual transmission, a car with an automatic transmission can be towed for a limited distance, and often it is quite short – about 50 km.
This limitation is related to the mechanisms of the car: when the internal combustion engine is not running and the car is not started, the oil pump in the automatic transmission does not start working. The oil fluid does not reduce friction between the parts, and accordingly, their overheating and wear occur much more actively.
The manufacturer’s recommendations can be found in the car’s manuals. They indicate whether a specific model can be towed with an automatic transmission, and if so, for what distance.
Typically, to tow a car with an automatic transmission, you should move the gear lever to the neutral position N. When transporting a car in this way for a distance of about 50 km, you should make more stops during which the automatic transmission will cool down.
How to tow a robot
A “robot” with one clutch mechanism can be towed any distance, just like a “mechanic”. It will also be able to pull another car; the gearbox does not have such restrictions.
However, the dual clutch mechanism of such boxes, already so-called DSG boxes, provides for a number of prohibitions for towing a car. They are the same as for towing cars with a classic automatic transmission.
How to Reduce the Risk of an Accident When Towing a Vehicle
In the event of an accident while towing a vehicle, the driver of the towed vehicle is most often found guilty, since he does not comply with the requirements of paragraph 10.1 of the Traffic Regulations.
To avoid an accident during towing, drivers of both vehicles should follow these recommendations.
Recommendations for the driver of a towing vehicle
The driver of the towing vehicle must:
- Inform the driver of the faulty vehicle about your maneuvers using special signals. For example, press the brake pedal several times before stopping completely, so that the car behind has time to brake as well.
- Try not to brake when driving uphill – this creates additional stress on the towing vehicle.
- Start moving smoothly, do not accelerate, and observe the speed limit – 50 km/h.
- Turn on a wide radius to give the car behind you enough room to turn.
- Do not loosen the cable while moving if towing is carried out using a flexible coupling.
