TOWING THE LINE
Page 32
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• Please could you tell me if there is a maximum distance a broken down lorry may be towed, or a straight bar, not an 'A' frame, by another lorry? The towing vehicle is a normal lorry, not a specialist recovery vehicle, without an air line coupling to the towed vehicle whose brakes have been wound off because of engine failure.
M Couchman Chinnor Oxfordshire Editor's reply: The law imposes no limit on the distance a broken down lorry may be towed, on a bar, an Aframe, or indeed by a rope or chain. Furthermore there is no legal requirement to couple the towing vehicle's braking system to that of the one being towed, although the Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators strongly recommends that this should be done wherever possible. The law's main requirements concerning towed vehicles is that when a rope or chain is used the distance between the two vehicles should not exceed 4.5m, and whatever is used, where the distance exceeds 1.5m, the rope, chain or bar should be made clearly visible from the side.