At any time and in any place, a car can break down. And to drag it where it needs to go, the most complex manipulation on the roads is used - towing a car. Yes, it seems that towing is simple: one car will pull another. But this simple process, of course, has rules for towing a car.
The difference between a rigid and flexible clutch
Every driver should know the difference between a rigid clutch for passenger cars and a flexible one.
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Flexible clutch. There is no fixed distance between the cars. A cable is used here.
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Towing on a rigid hitch. Here, the distance between the cars is always the same. For this purpose, a rigid hitch for a passenger car is made using a special metal triangle.
This is how a car is towed. But in the process itself, there are also rules for towing a car.
Towing a passenger car with a rigid and flexible hitch
Towing is a rather complicated process. That's why it's important to know the rules of car towing thoroughly. This will not only allow you to understand how to tow a car correctly, but also to avoid at least a fine and at most an accident.
So, how do you tow a car?
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When using a flexible hitch, there should be a distance of 4-6 meters between cars. Each meter should be marked with a marker. A rigid hitch allows no more than 4 meters.
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A flexible hitch requires that the towed vehicle has working brakes and steering. A rigid hitch allows the absence of brakes.
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The car being towed must have a hazard warning light and low beam.
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You can drive no faster than 50 km/h.
Towing with a flexible or rigid hitch is possible only if the rules are taken into account. But towing a car on an automatic transmission will have its own individual characteristics.
Towing a truck with a rigid and flexible hitch
The most commonly used method of truck coupling is hard coupling, but partial loading is also possible. In this case, the rigid coupling for trucks must be carried out with a certain distance. There should be no more than 4 m between the vehicles. As for the drivers, a rigid coupling for trucks requires that both vehicles have them.
The partial loading method is the use of a tow truck with only the front of the vehicle on it.
How long the cable should be and whether it is possible to transport people in the towed vehicle
Before towing a car with an idling engine, there are a few things you should know. One of the most important is how long the towing cable should be. And here, according to the rules, the length of a towing cable for a passenger car is 4-6 meters.
And one more question: is it allowed to transport people in a car that is being towed? The answer is yes, but only if it is flexible or rigid towing. But if it is partially loaded, there should be no passengers in the cabin.