Is it legal

[derek kelly]

For a car to tow another car on the Motorway with just a tow rope?
coming home from work tonight as I was coming off a Roundabout there was a car joining the roundabout from the Motorway he saw me but carried on coming as I was almost on him I noticed a tow rope between him and the car behind him, I pressed the horn and shouted a few F*cks at him, he stopped and cowered in his seat, being a long time since I read the highway code :blush: I seem to recall something about it being illegal for a car to tow another car on the motorway.

 

[ianrobbo1]

I stand to be corrected, but I was always under the impression that it was "on to" a motorway but not "off" !!! unless properly designed to tow etc!! :dunno:

 

[Codbasher]

I think you are allowed to tow, but only with a rigid bar and not a rope, also not allowed outside lane etc.

May well have been outlawed now..

 

[Chunky Monkey]

nowt in the highway code...........



http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/24.htm#248

 

[Jono]

No towing on the motorway. :t

 

[Artemis]

My understanding was that you may tow to the next exit. Could be wrong, though, they keep changing the rules without telling us............

 

[Chunky Monkey]

just found this, but think it`s aimed more at the professional company............



http://www.goskills.org/downloads/vehicle_maintenance/TEM35.pdf


an extract from the "Road vehicles construction and use" regulation 83

a car dolly, with a car in place, will be considered as two trailers. This is legal for recovery but, under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 (Schedule 6) the combination is limited to 40 mph on motorways and dual carriageways and 20 mph elsewhere

 

[chuffmeister]

a few years back got stopped for towing on the motorway on a rope ( astra on the back of a big 4x4 double cab pick up ) , copper said that to leave the motorway at the next junction was ok, but not to do 100 miles back to yorkshire :xm and we had full flashing amber lights and tail board on the back car too.

Fair play to him mind, he " escorted " us 2 junctions so we could cut across country easier, :neenaw:

 

[RHINO]

Spoke to a Traffic SGT at work who said it was ok to tow with a solid bar but a rope was only to be used for recovery to the next exit.
I asked a few weeks back when i was collecting my Alfa from Brum.
I had my LDV400 towed back from the Lake Distric on a rope... 80 miles of motorway and no hassle at all.