If your car breaks down on the way, you must remove it from the roadway as quickly as possible so as not to obstruct traffic.
As a rule of thumb, a car that is no longer roadworthy and cannot be repaired locally can be towed away. This is the case, for example:
- If the engine goes on strike and the vehicle no longer starts
- The electronics are defective
- Coolant leaks out.
Another important requirement is that the light of the broken-down car must still work. If the car is towed, the hazard warning lights must remain switched on at all times. In the event of electrical damage, towing is therefore prohibited by law and you must contact a Heavy Duty Towing service.
By the way, if you suddenly run out of petrol and can therefore no longer drive, it is also not permitted to tow the car off a public road. In this case, you are dependent on another driver or the breakdown service. They can give you the fuel you need to drive to the nearest gas station.
Towing the car properly: Tips for mothers
Make sure the brakes, steering, and hazard lights on the breakdown vehicle are working.
If both vehicles are connected with a rope or tow bar, determine the route to the next workshop with the other driver.
Switch on the hazard warning lights on both vehicles before towing.
Release the handbrake on the breakdown vehicle and put it out of gear.
Changes in direction while driving are indicated in both vehicles by hand signals. The reason for this is that the hazard warning lights are on and the turn signal cannot be seen. If you want to turn right and you don’t have a passenger, point your finger through the window over the car roof to the right.
Drive carefully and slowly. In the breakdown vehicle, always pay attention to the reactions of the person in front.
How fast can mothers drive when being towed?
There is no maximum towing speed. However, the DVR advises not to drive faster than 50 km/h. At this towing speed, driving mothers can still react well because the steering and braking assistance of their cars no longer works. It becomes more difficult to steer and brake the car. The slower the towing speed, the easier it is to avoid accidents.