Towing with a rigid hitch, 2021 traffic regulations: is category E necessary?

Responsibility for running red

If this offense is committed repeatedly, then the driver, in accordance with Part 3 of the same article, entered into force on July 23, 2013, will face a much more severe administrative penalty:

Paying a larger amount for driving through a red light - a fine of 5,000 rubles;
Deprivation of driver's license for a period of four months to six months.

Let us remind you that an offense will be considered a repeat offense if less than a year has passed since the payment of the fine for the previous violation.

However, in 2021, you can get a fine for running a red light by actually driving not through a prohibiting signal, but in the absence of a permitting signal, if the traffic light has additional sections in addition to the main one. So, if the green arrow in the add. section, then if you drive in the direction regulated by the latter, you will receive the same fine of 1000 rubles.

Interruption of railway tracks at a prohibitory signal

In addition to the cases described above, where drivers who have committed an offense for the first time can only receive a fine for a traffic light, there are others described in Part 1 of Art. 12.10 of the Code of Administrative Offences, namely crossing railway tracks at a prohibiting traffic light signal. In this case, the driver may face the following administrative penalties:

payment of a fine of one thousand rubles,
deprivation of rights from three months. up to six months.

You cannot cross the stop line at a signalized intersection.

Another offense that is closely related to the one described above is driving beyond the stop line at a signalized intersection. In Art. 12.12 also states that committing this offense at an intersection regulated by a traffic light or a traffic controller entails a fine less than the fine for a red light - only 800 rubles.

The stop line is indicated both by road markings and the corresponding road sign, and these elements can occur either separately or together. Let us remind you that their meanings do not coincide in everything:

the sign obliges you to stop only at a controlled intersection, i.e. at a traffic light;
The markings, in addition to stopping according to the requirements described above, instruct drivers to stop at uncontrolled intersections if there is an appropriate sign.

Do not enter an intersection if there is a traffic jam behind it.

As part of the material devoted to driving through a red light and the fine for it, it is worth considering such an offense as entering an intersection while a traffic jam has formed behind it. In this case, the motorist cannot leave this intersection while the traffic light is on, resulting in a traffic jam on each of the roads adjacent to the intersection. The fine for such an accident violation is also 1000 rubles.

In a word, you should not try to “fly through” the intersection; in general, you should be more careful on the road, because driving through an intersection with a prohibitory signal threatens not only a large fine, but also deprivation of your license if the violation is repeated.

Towing vehicles with automatic transmission

Rules for driving through railway crossings
Towing vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission is not recommended. When transporting a car with an automatic transmission in this way, the wheels of the car rotate, as a result of which some mechanisms inside the car begin to move. At the same time, the hydraulic pump that supplies oil to the engine does not function due to the fact that the engine is not running. Thus, when towing a car with an automatic transmission, there is a high risk of wear and failure of some engine parts.

Also, before carrying out such an operation, it is necessary to read the operating manual of the car that you plan to tow, since the design of some automatic transmissions requires additional precautions when towing

Truck towing

Towing a vehicle without a driver or towing with a driver is carried out mainly when the engine of the car is not running.
At the same time, all other structural elements can be intact. If the brake system and steering are intact, you can tow the vehicle in any way in the summer .

Towing in winter excludes the possibility of using a rope to tow a car, since this can be very dangerous in icy conditions.

When using any of the hitches, except for partial loading , the driver not only can, but is also required to remain in the vehicle . Passengers may also be present there.

If partial loading is used, then there should be no one in the car.

If the vehicle brake does not work . In this case, a flexible hitch is prohibited, since the towed vehicle may crash into the towing vehicle when the latter is braking. However, an important condition is that in this case the towing vehicle should be 2 times heavier than the towed one . In accordance with the Rules, this is considered the minimum weight at which the towing vehicle will be able to stop the car following it.

When all car systems do not work . In this case, only partial loading can be used. No one can be in the car, therefore all maneuvers are carried out at the expense of the towing vehicle, therefore its weight must necessarily exceed 2 times the weight of the towed vehicle.

A little theory

What brands of cars are made in Japan

Axle load (axle load) is the load from the mass of the vehicle transmitted to the road surface by the wheels of one axle.

The mass of the vehicle (kerb or full) and the loads on its axles are related by a simple ratio:

Vehicle weight = front axle load + rear axle load.

The load on the rear axle of a vehicle is usually greater than on the front axle. This depends on the fact that the loading platform is located at the rear of the vehicle, and the load from the cabin and power unit comes from the front.

In front of the bridge or on certain sections of the road you can see prohibitory sign 3.12, which prohibits the movement of vehicles whose actual weight on any of the axles exceeds that indicated on the sign. If the axle load is greater than indicated on the sign, then the driver should go around this section of the road along a different route. Failure to comply with this rule is punishable by a fine.

Failure to comply with the requirements prescribed by road signs prohibiting the movement of vehicles whose total actual weight or axle load exceeds those indicated on the road sign, if the movement of such vehicles is carried out without special permission, entails the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five thousand rubles.

Article 12.21.1 part 11 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation

When designing a car, the permissible axle load is used.

Permissible axle load is the permitted load transmitted to the road by the wheels of one vehicle axle.

There are established limits for permissible axle loads for two-axle vehicles:

Distance between axles (m)	Permissible load on each axle for cars of group A	Permissible load on each axle for cars of group B
Over 2.00	10.0	6.0
1.65 – 2.00	9.0	5.7
1.35 – 1.65	8.0	5.5
1.00 – 1.35	7.0	5.0
Until 1.00	6.0	4.5

Group “A” includes cars whose operation is permitted on roads of I-III categories, and group “B” whose operation is permitted on all roads.

Most people believe that overload increases braking distance. But in fact, it lengthens due to the inertia of the load, which also creates the conditions for the car to skid. And if the load is not secured, then there is a danger of tipping over and then other road users will also suffer.

What are the rules for flexible coupling?

The traffic rules establish the following rules (an exhaustive list of them for the cable):

When towing with a flexible hitch, both vehicles must have drivers - this is obvious.
The towing driver must have at least 2 years of experience,
the length of the cable should ensure a distance between machines of 4 to 6 meters,
and the cable itself must be marked with flags with white and red alternating stripes.

When is it prohibited?

When there is ice on the road - and its presence is determined by the traffic police officer by eye,
if there is a 3.7 sign on a section of the road prohibiting driving with a trailer, and at the same time towing (you can see what it looks like below),
if the towed person does not have steering or brakes,
if we are talking about motorcycles without a sidecar (moreover, they themselves cannot pull, and they cannot be towed),
bicycles, scooters and mopeds (they also cannot be on either side of the cable) - clause 24.9 of the traffic rules,
The Rules also prohibit towing 2 or more cars one behind the other.

Towing a car with automatic transmission and all-wheel drive

Traffic Laws

If the car has an automatic transmission, then towing it becomes more difficult. There are limitations for flexible or rigid coupling. The distance over which the car is transported should not exceed 50 kilometers, and the speed of movement should not exceed 50 km/h.

If the distance to the place of repair work exceeds the specified distance, then towing should be carried out using the partial loading method.

If the vehicle has four-wheel drive, then using the partial loading method is prohibited. There is also a transportation restriction imposed on him: 10 kilometers and a speed of no more than 30 km/h.

Features of vehicle preparation for towing

Towing a car is a standard situation, but it must be approached responsibly. Not every car can act as a towing vehicle. Before moving a disabled vehicle, it is necessary to assess the condition of both vehicles. First of all, weight is taken into account. As already said. It should be 1/2 times larger than that of the car being driven.

The towing vehicle must have a working brake system, steering, hazard warning lights and low and high beam headlights. The driven vehicle must have a working brake system, steering and hazard lights. If the hazard warning lights are faulty, it is permissible to mount a warning triangle in a visible place that does not interfere with visibility. Otherwise, it is recommended to use the full or partial loading method.

If the vehicle is being driven at night, both vehicles must turn on their side lights. If there is damage or complete absence of the windshield, then a motorcycle helmet is used for the driver of the driven vehicle.

To tow a car, a cable is used, the rated load of which is twice the weight of the towed car. The cable must be dry and clean. Its length varies from 4 to 6 meters. For reliability, the cable is attached to the car using carabiners or loops on a marine knot.

It is better to transfer all passengers to the leading car or send them to get to their destination on their own. The towed vehicle must have one driver.

If all towing rules are followed, the operation is carried out as normal and is not an emergency. It should be noted that foreign-made cars may have their own characteristics. You must carefully read the operating instructions. Some models cannot withstand towing with the gears engaged, the engine running, etc.

Rules for towing with a rigid hitch

Limitations when using a rigid hitch:

The driver must be behind the wheel of the towed (rear) vehicle, unless the hitch design allows the towed vehicle to move along the trajectory of the towing vehicle when driving in a straight line.
The distance between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle should be no more than 4 meters.
It is prohibited to transport people in a towed bus, trolleybus or the body of a towed car.
It is prohibited to tow vehicles with inoperative steering.
It is prohibited to tow vehicles with inoperative brake systems. However, if the actual weight of the towed vehicle is more than 2 times less than the actual weight of the towing vehicle, then towing with a rigid hitch is permitted.

Situations when towing is not permissible

It should be noted that to move the car to the repair site, the operation of the alarm system and the cable is not enough. There are situations in which towing vehicles is not permitted.

Towing is prohibited if the brake system breaks down for vehicles whose weight exceeds half the weight of the towing vehicle.
In case of bad weather conditions (heavy rain, ice, poor visibility), towing with a flexible hitch is prohibited.
Passing vehicles is prohibited if there is no visibility through the windshield.
Towing is not permitted if the total length of the connected vehicles is more than 22 meters.
It is prohibited to tow motorcycles without trailers or sidecars, mopeds and bicycles.
Driving vehicles with trailers, vehicles in combination, or convoys is not allowed.
In case of faulty steering, partial or full loading method is allowed.

Thus, towing a car - the rules and advice say that as a leading car you should choose one that is twice your weight. In this case, clutch in the form of a cable is allowed only in case of good visibility, weather, operation of the steering and brakes.

Towing with a rigid hitch

Unlike towing with a flexible hitch, in which the tow rope can sag to the ground, towing with a rigid hitch is carried out using special fixed devices, usually made of metal.

At the same time, towing couplings can be of various designs . The simplest rigid couplers have one attachment point for each vehicle. More complex ones have multiple attachment points to the towed vehicle (as in the picture above) and allow the towed vehicle to follow the path of the towed vehicle while driving in a straight line. The rules for different types of rigid couplings are different.

In practice, towing with a rigid hitch is used much less often than towing with a flexible one. However, rigid couplers have several advantages over flexible ones. For example, they are more durable and allow you to tow heavy trucks.

Check weighing

Why is control weighing performed and how does it happen? Weighing is carried out in order to find out how much weight falls on each of the axles. After all, overload is a violation that entails a fine for overload on the axles.

There are two types of weighing - dynamic and static.

Dynamic weighing

is carried out without stopping the vehicle, but the vehicle speed should be no more than 5 km/h. For this weight measurement, axle car scales are used, which determine the weight of each axle, and then record the actual weight of the car. But this type of weighing has many disadvantages, one of which is the existing error, it can range from 0.5% to 3%.

Statistical Weighting

be carried out only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop. This type of weight measurement is quite accurate and is more suitable for commercial weighing.

Unified traffic rules for towing vehicles

It is customary to identify common towing canons:

If towing is carried out in the dark, the vehicles should have the lights turned on.
Regardless of the time of day, optics must be activated on both vehicles: low beam lights, fog lights.
It is prohibited to travel at speeds above 50 km/h.
The towing rope should be kept taut at all times, otherwise it will easily break if there is an unexpected jerk. A towed vehicle can run over a cable that hangs to the ground.
Between both cars, on a flexible hitch there should be from 4 to 6 meters, on a rigid hitch - no more than 4 meters.

The following traffic rules have been introduced for a towed vehicle:

The car is distinguished by a warning triangle attached to the bumper.
The key must be inserted into the lock, otherwise the steering wheel will lock and the car will become uncontrollable.
On descents the driver must be very careful. When the cable sag, it should smoothly brake the car, preferably using the handbrake.
When turning, the driver of the car must be careful and not hesitate during the maneuver, especially on a busy road, where any gap that forms can immediately cause another car to wedge in.

The following traffic rules have been introduced for a towing vehicle:

It is not recommended to use engine braking when towing, and in general, press the pedal as little as possible. You need to quickly change gears on a towing car.
During a forced stop or slowdown, the driver must give a “stop” or hand signal to the towed vehicle.
When maneuvering, the driver must move along the maximum possible radius.

There are also a number of mandatory rules that limit towing:

Towing with a flexible hitch on slippery road surfaces or during icy conditions in winter is strictly prohibited.
It is not allowed to pull a car with a trailer or several vehicles at a time.
It is punishable by law if the towed vehicle has damaged brakes and is heavier than the tractor.
It is prohibited to pull mopeds and bicycles on a cable.
Motorcycles may only be towed with a side trailer attached.
Towing is punishable by law if it is carried out in poor visibility: fog, heavy rain.
It is prohibited to tow a coupled vehicle whose length exceeds 22 meters.

What is the fine for improper towing in 2021?

For any violations of towing rules, except for traffic rules regarding the use of lighting devices and speeding in this process, a single standard of punishment is applied, and liability in this case is quite mild.

For traffic violations during towing, a fine of 500 rubles is issued or a warning is issued under Part 1 of Article 12.21 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

Such punishment, in particular, is imposed in the following cases:

a fine is imposed if the experience of the driver of the towing vehicle is less than 2 years,
for violation of towing conditions on a flexible or rigid hitch,
if the cable length is insufficient or excessive,
for failure to display an emergency stop sign at the rear of the car in cases established by traffic regulations,
if you have taken on a rope vehicles that are prohibited from towing: bicycles or motorcycles without a sidecar.

However, there are 2 violations during this procedure, for which separate, more specific penalties are imposed:

for violations of the speed limit when towing, one of the traffic police fines for excess is imposed - from 500 rubles to punishment in the form of deprivation of rights for 1 year,
and for violations of the use of lighting devices, the same punishment is imposed - a warning or a fine of 500 rubles under Article 12.20 of the Code of Administrative Offences.

So a fine or a warning?

In the administrative legislation of 2021, a warning is a softer measure of liability, and a fine is a tougher one. And therefore the first is imposed by law in the following cases:

if the violation of towing rules is committed by the driver for the first time,
if as a result of the violation there was no road accident causing harm to health or death to people, animals or the environment.

This is what Article 3.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses says.

However, in practice, a warning is almost never issued by the traffic police - only a fine.

Moreover, please note that, unlike most other rules for imposing punishment, the absence of violations before the current one is considered not for the last year, but in general.

Is there a discount?

. A 50% discount applies to fines for improper towing of motor vehicles if the money is paid within 20 days from the date of the decision. That is, the fine in this case will be 250 rubles.

This discount also does not depend on the specific violation: if the driver’s experience is less than 2 years, if the length or marking of the cable is incorrect when using a flexible hitch, when using a flexible hitch in icy conditions, when towing is prohibited in cases prescribed by traffic rules, and so on.

Who will be fined: the tower or the towed?

To the one who violated. But if this point is controversial, then most often traffic police officers impose a fine on the towing driver. Let's look at each specific violation.

The person towing will be fined:

for speeding,
for towing vehicles that traffic regulations prohibit towing,
for incorrect cable length (even if the cable belongs to the one being towed),
and for other violations committed by the towing vehicle.

And towed in the following cases:

if he did not turn on the hazard warning lights, side lights in the dark or did not put up an emergency stop sign when the emergency lights are not working,
for transporting people in his car,
for other violations of towing rules that occurred directly in the towed vehicle.

Will the car be taken to the impound lot for this violation?

Again, here is a situation where practice differs somewhat from theory - for the worse for the driver. But not in all cases.

The fact is that Article 27.13 of the Code of Administrative Offenses does not provide for evacuation to a parking lot for violations of towing rules. Meanwhile, if it is carried out when the brake or steering system is not working, and it is prohibited in this case for a flexible hitch and in some cases for a rigid one (we will talk about towing rules in detail a little lower), then the inspector may illegally apply a separate punishment to the towed car under Part 2 of Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code. And when a fine is issued according to this standard, evacuation already becomes legal.

What's the matter here?! And the fact is that if you violate the traffic rules prohibition of towing a car with non-working brakes or steering, then this is at the same time a violation of the rules of towing and driving in the presence of malfunctions in which the operation of the car is prohibited. However, both of these violations are caused by one illegal action, and you cannot be punished twice for this. And, since incorrect towing is a more particular case of this violation, then the sanction should be applied precisely according to this norm, for which the impound lot is illegal.

However, the question remains open if the inspector issues a fine for violating towing rules to the towing driver, and for a malfunction - to the towed person. In this case, everything seems logical, since 2 illegal actions have already led to 2 violations.

Fine for towing by a driver without experience

Despite the fact that the requirement for minimum driving experience was introduced not so long ago by amendments to the traffic rules, there was no separate fine for this violation. Thus, it also qualifies under Article 12.21 of the Code of Administrative Offenses with a fine of 500 rubles.

Is there a separate penalty for a truck?

No. Article 12.21 of the Administrative Code is common for both cars and trucks, buses, motorcycles, mopeds and so on. It prescribes fines for towing violations of any motor vehicle.

Is there a separate sanction for legal entities?

Also no. And the fine will not be issued to the organization, but to the driver for a specific violation of improper towing.

There are, however, special sanctions for legal entities when driving with a towed trailer in the case of heavy or large vehicles, as well as dangerous goods (Articles 12.21.1 and 12.21.2 respectively).

Towing a car: tips for choosing a cable and its designation

In addition to knowing the situations in which it is permissible to move an idle vehicle, it is important to know the features of choosing a cable. According to the traffic rules, certain requirements are imposed on him

If flexible or rigid fastening is used, different lengths are provided for the cable. In the first case, it should not exceed 6 meters, in the second - 4. This is due to the need to maneuver on the road and take into account other road users. If the cable is too long, it will create an emergency situation and make it difficult for other cars to move.

If a flexible clutch is used for towing, then special flags or markers are placed on the cable. They have red stripes and are a danger signal. Markers are placed at a distance of one meter from each other.

A special rope is chosen as a towing rope, which is made of durable nylon material. It has steel carabiners at the ends that are attached to cars. For reliable fastening and protection during jerks, the hooks have springs. It should be taken into account that a forged stick differs from a light alloy stick in weight. It should be about 500 grams.

When choosing a cable, consider the weight of the vehicle. Usually the maximum permissible load is indicated on the packaging.