Towing vehicles

If a vehicle is no longer functioning, it may be towed by another vehicle. Towing can be dangerous, and is subject to a number of rules:

• You can only tow one other motor vehicle with a motor vehicle.
• You may not tow a two-wheeled motor vehicle and you may not be towed by a two-wheeled motor vehicle.
• You may not tow if the distance between the two motor vehicles is more than 5 metres.
• No persons may be seated in the towed vehicle, except the driver and passengers who no longer fit in the front vehicle.
• While towing, the towed vehicle uses hazard lights to warn other drivers.

Driving licence required

While towing, the rear motor vehicle is still considered a motor vehicle and therefore this driver must have a valid driving licence for that vehicle.

Trailers

In addition, the rear motor vehicle is also seen as a trailer and is subject to the rules applicable to trailers.

Points of attention while towing

If a vehicle has to be towed because it cannot drive further, you have to think of a number of things:

• Short distance to the pulling vehicle
  Because there is a maximum of five meters between the towing and towed vehicle, you have little room to brake when the front vehicle brakes. Therefore, do not drive too fast and avoid difficult and busy points. Also avoid the autoweg and motorway.
• Maintain tension on the towline
  During towing, the most force is put on the cable and the vehicles when the cable is getting tensioned. Make sure that the cable does not slack too often during the ride, but keep it tensioned as much as possible.
• Account for steering lock
  Many passenger cars are equipped with a steering lock, which ensures that the steering wheel can no longer rotate when the passenger car is out of contact. Therefore leave the key in the ignition of the towed vehicle and turn it one turn so that the vehicle remains in contact.
• Account for missing power steering and brakes
  In passenger cars with power brakes and power steering, this assistance will not work when the engine is switched off. Braking and steering will therefore be more difficult.
• Hazard lights
  Warn the other traffic with the hazard lights of the towed car. Otherwise, following and oncoming traffic cannot see that you are towing or being towed.
• Electric vehicles
  Most electric vehicles cannot be towed. Because electric vehicles are designed to generate electricity through the wheels, this can overload the electrical circuit during towing. So always check the instruction booklet to know whether your car can be towed. In most cases, an electric car will have to be transported on a trailer or car transporter in the event of a breakdown.