Chapter XVII. Towing of Motor Vehicles
138. Towing with a rigid or flexible coupling requires a driver at the controls of the towed vehicle, except where the design of the rigid coupling, ensures, when travelling in a straight line, that the towed vehicle follows the path of the towing vehicle.
139. During towing with a rigid or flexible coupling, persons must not be carried in a towed bus or trolleybus or in the cargo bed of a goods vehicle. When towing by the partial-loading method, no person may remain in the cab or body of the towed vehicle or in the body of the towing vehicle.
140. The distance between the towing and towed vehicles must be: 4—6 m when towing with a flexible coupling, and no more than 4 m when towing with a rigid coupling.
141. When towing motor vehicles, the flexible towing connection must be made clearly visible by fitting it with warning devices in the form of flags or shields measuring 200 × 200 mm with a retroreflective surface, with diagonal alternating red and white stripes of 50 mm width. At least two warning devices must be placed on the tow rope.
142. The design of the rigid coupling must conform to the requirements of the standards.
143. Towing is prohibited:
of two or more motor vehicles;
by motorcycles without a sidecar, as well as of such motorcycles;
with a flexible coupling in icy conditions;
of those vehicles whose windscreen wipers and windscreen washers required by the vehicle’s design are not functioning—in the case when the towed vehicle is controlled by a driver;
of those vehicles whose steering control is not functioning (with the exception of towing by the partial-loading method);
of a vehicle whose braking system is not functioning and whose actual mass exceeds half of the actual mass of the towing vehicle. If the actual mass of the towed vehicle is less than half of the actual mass of the towing vehicle, towing is permitted only with a rigid coupling or by the partial-loading method.
144. The steering control and braking systems referred to in subpoints 5 and 6 of point 143 of the Rules are considered to be non-functioning if they do not allow the driver to change direction or to stop the vehicle—even at minimum speed.