In case of breakdown: This is how you tow your car correctly

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No one is immune from a car breaking down, and it often breaks down when you least need it. The risk of malfunction can be minimized, but it can still occur. According to statistics, the car battery in particular is often the trigger, as the power requirements of comfort systems such as radio or air conditioning are very high. Factors such as the vehicle’s age, maintenance status, and driving behavior also play a role.

In case of malfunction, you can repair some errors yourself, but you cannot always avoid towing. Professional towing services are often expensive, so many people try to do it themselves. We give tips, explain what rules must be followed when towing and what the legal regulations say.

Securing the scene of an accident or malfunction is the first step. Turn on the hazard lights, put on the safety vest and set up to see the fault triangle accurately and clearly: 200 to 400 meters in front of the faulty vehicle on motorways, 200 meters on country roads and 50 meters in cities.

Important: If the vehicle has severe damage following an accident, it must be delivered to the breakdown service. Loose or falling parts may obstruct traffic or cause another accident. In general, the towed vehicle must be roadworthy. If the brakes, steering, tires, headlights or hazard lights are faulty, you cannot tow. Even if there is a lot of traffic, you should call the breakdown service; Towing in heavy traffic can quickly become dangerous.

Connect and go? It is not that easy! Do you drive an electric vehicle? You can see in the operating instructions whether your electric car can be towed – some manufacturers prohibit this completely, while others allow it only under certain conditions. Because: Depending on the design, electric motors in electric cars produce uncontrolled electricity by rotating the wheels while towing. This may also cause damage to the drive; This will void the manufacturer’s warranty. For electric vehicles with dead propulsion batteries, the only solution is to charge at a mobile charging station or in a minibus and go to the nearest power source.

Automatic transmission and hybrid cars are generally only allowed to be towed short distances because the significant amount of heat generated in the transmission can cause damage. In general, the transmission selector lever must be able to be moved to the neutral position; Vehicles can only be towed idle. If a dead 12-volt battery disables an electric car, the vehicle cannot be put into neutral; either the 12 volt battery is being charged or the vehicle is being transported.

If possible, use a pole when towing. The solid coupling prevents rear-end collisions if the tow vehicle brakes suddenly or on a downhill slope. The mast should not be longer than five meters. Ropes can be up to eight meters long and only weigh up to four tonnes are allowed. The pole or rope can only be attached to the holes or hooks provided. They are often hidden behind small cutouts in aprons. If you cannot find them, the operating instructions will help.

The fault triangle must be mounted in a clearly visible manner behind the towed vehicle. To prevent the steering lock from jamming when towing, turn the ignition on. For vehicles with keyless entry, operating instructions will be helpful. If the internal combustion engine is still intact, leave it idling; This way the power assist for braking and steering remains intact and the car is easier to control.

Before leaving, first double-check the connection between cars. If everything is OK, you can start. But be careful; There are still a few things to consider regarding traffic.

The maximum speed limit is 40 even on the highway when towing. Consider hiring a breakdown service when traffic is heavy; When there is a lot of traffic, towing can quickly become dangerous. On highways and roads, flashing warning lights must be on in both vehicles; Direction changes must then be specified manually. On other roads, a turn signal must be used to indicate direction.

You should use the right lane on highways; If your car breaks down on the highway, you can only use the hard shoulder to accelerate. In this case, the vehicle can still only be moved to the next exit or rest stop. In no case should you enter the highway while towing! Always choose the fastest and safest route to the nearest service and of course drive carefully!

Source: Blick