Last weekend I had to help a friend out when his car broke down a good distance from home so we towed it back using a rope. I have since been told it is now illegal to use a tow rope. Is this correct?
2007-01-30 05:13:47 · 22 answers · asked by troublescat 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
In the UK,, as long as your tow rope does not exceed 4.5 metres in length it is still ok to recover on road vehicles, provided your tow vehicle is capable.
It is however illegal to tow a vehice with its hazard flashers operating, as no idication as to direction change can be given to other road users.
If possible a tow board wired from the towing vehicle should be used but this is not mandatory.
2007-01-30 06:06:03 · answer #1 · answered by rookethorne 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You ask for advise well here it is- Get a registered tow truck company to get the car off of the road to where you are going to have it serviced. This is why- at this point in time both cars are serviceable and when you get done with your attempt both cars may have ended up being totaled. It seems to me that taking a car that needs say 100 dollars worth of work done to it now and making it need 1500 dollars worth of repair work is a false savings. Not only is the risk to great money wise, it makes no sense to me to hazard life and limb to save a tow charge. No I do not own a tow company, I learned the hard way- as in a 1500 dollar transmission replacement charge. I got off cheap, I have seen others total three cars in the process. The car being towed, the car doing the towing as well as the one that hit the other two (or did they hit them). Please think a little bit more before you make things worse!
2016-03-29 09:54:26 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I tow a fair bit for my work when the breakdown is very local (normally a misfuel). If it was illegal to tow Halfords would be up in court for supplying towropes to the public, wouldn't they? As far as I know it is frowned upon to use a tow rope on the motorway because of the speeds involved, but no policeman has stopped me on any other road.
2007-01-30 09:30:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As I understand it, you can now only tow using a rope to move the car to a safe location, eg off a junction and into a car park. If its a distance then a rigid pole must be used. They aren't expensive to buy. Certainly cheaper than a fine and points.
2007-01-30 05:51:09 · answer #4 · answered by Mark B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you wont to tow a car any distance you need to use a tow bar but in a emergency I E to get off a motor way the nearest exit you can use a rope thats all ok hope this is a help
2007-01-30 05:58:38 · answer #5 · answered by thescarb99 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends where you are towing at. In some cases you can tow with a rope or chain if you have it running through a pipe that if the front vehicle stopps too fast that it prevents the towed car from smashing into the front one.
2007-01-30 05:44:41 · answer #6 · answered by panthersmoker4@yahoo.com 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not heard that one,, we still use tow ropes in the uk
2007-01-30 05:26:37 · answer #7 · answered by april 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is only illegal to use a rope on the motorways in the UK.
on the motorway you must use a solid bar.
2007-01-30 07:28:51 · answer #8 · answered by stud200_uk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the tow rope
if its in feet and inches its illegal
if its in metres and centimetres your ok!!!
european union ehh
2007-01-30 05:36:38 · answer #9 · answered by sizzy1969 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes it is illegal to tow with a rope you must use a tow barr.
2007-01-30 08:40:38 · answer #10 · answered by seeyulater 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋