Towing a vehicle often results in traffic fines and accidents. To avoid trouble, the driver of the Winnipeg Towing Company Near Me or towed vehicle must know and follow the relevant regulations: speed limits, who can be towed and how, and the specifics of rigid and flexible couplings.
All matters concerning towing are covered by Article 20 of the Rules. It lists the instances in which such action is permitted and prohibited, and specifies requirements for drivers, speed, and equipment used.
According to Articles 12.21 and 12.26 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, violating towing regulations carries a fine of 200 Dollars. If the fine is paid within twenty days, the penalty will be reduced to 100 Dollars.
Situations in which you have to tow someone else's car can be divided into three groups:
According to Section 20.2 of the Traffic Regulations, towing is entrusted only to drivers with at least two years of experience. This is logical, as a novice driver, even at low speed, can cause an accident. Trolleybuses, buses, and other passenger vehicles are towed without passengers (Section 20.2).
According to paragraph 10.4, vehicles must not exceed speeds of 50 km/h when towing. Observe signs—where trailers are prohibited, towing is prohibited.
If your vehicle is inoperable, Section 7.1 of the Rules requires you to turn on the hazard warning lights. If the vehicle's technical condition prevents this, attach a warning triangle to its rear. In foggy conditions, in the evening, and at night, Section 19.1 also requires you to turn on the parking lights.
A Winnipeg Towing Service Near Me rope or specialized strap is used, secured to the towing eyes, hooks, and "eyelets" under the front and rear bumpers. If the towing vehicle is equipped with a towbar, you can use it.
For models with two attachment points, the cable is attached diagonally—for example, to the left side of the driver vehicle and to the right side of the follower vehicle. This prevents the vehicle from running into the cable when turning.
Even with the utmost care when towing, the maneuverability of both vehicles is reduced, and the risk of an accident increases. Therefore, it is important to strictly adhere to traffic regulations and stay within the posted speed limit.
In this case, the towing device is a metal pipe with eyes or another structure that provides a more secure hold than a rope. Trucks are most often towed this way, but, for example, in icy conditions, cars are also towed.
Rigid fixation is used when transporting a vehicle with inoperative brakes. This method can be used to tow a driverless vehicle, provided both vehicles are on the same track.
Restrictions for rigid coupling: regulations prohibit exceeding a four-meter distance between vehicles and transporting vehicles with inoperative steering.
Unfortunately, few people carry a rigid towing device. And that's a shame – such a device is much more functional than a tow rope. For example, it can be used to transport a car with inoperative brakes without the driver being inside the vehicle (using a so-called "fork").
With this method, the front wheels of the towed vehicle are placed on a transport platform or in the back of a towing truck. The rear wheels remain functional and drive on the road. This method is used by towing services that have specialized loading equipment, trucks, and specialized platforms at their disposal.
Towing a car with an automatic transmission with any kind of hitch is risky. Unlike a manual transmission, where only the gear engaged in neutral is active, in an automatic transmission, the entire mechanism is engaged. This can lead to overheating and failure of the oil pump that services the transmission. If the engine is turned off, the oil supply to the transmission components will be cut off, and the automatic transmission will fail.
Therefore, many manufacturers only allow automatic vehicles to be transported on a tow truck. For example, this restriction applies to manufacturers of all-wheel drive SUVs and crossovers with automatic transmissions, as their drive clutches also break during towing.
Some automatic transmission models are approved for towing, albeit with restrictions. The towing range for these models should not exceed 30 km, and the speed should not exceed 30 km/h. The transmission should be shifted to N and allowed to cool down during the journey.
There's nothing complicated about this—just shift the gearshift lever into neutral, as required by towing regulations, and place your foot on the brake pedal. It's a good idea to turn on the ignition to prevent the steering wheel lock from engaging when turning.
According to Article 20, the following vehicles may not participate in Towing Near Me:
To transport a vehicle on a flexible towbar, a 4-6 m long tow rope is required. Regulations require the placement of 200 x 200 mm flags (shields) with diagonal red and white reflective stripes on the tow rope.
For rigid transportation, two types of couplings are used:
The traffic regulations require that a rigid towing device comply with GOST 25907-89, so when purchasing, request a certificate.
Many people wonder who will be fined for violating the rules. It all depends on the specific circumstances:
Most road users try to help other drivers on the road and tow damaged vehicles. It's important to remember safety, be extremely attentive, and follow the rules.
