The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003

Restriction on carriage of loads and towing of vehicles

5.—(1) A road recovery vehicle must not carry or tow any load or transport any goods or burden.

(2) But that is subject to paragraphs 6 and 7.

6.  A road recovery vehicle may carry its own necessary gear and equipment.

7.—(1) Except as stated in sub-paragraph (2), a road recovery vehicle may carry or tow a disabled vehicle or vehicle-combination when conveying it to a destination in accordance with the instructions of the owner or driver of the vehicle or when conveying it to an appropriate destination for repair.

(2) Where a recovery of a disabled vehicle or vehicle-combination is effected by using a drawbar or lift-and-tow method, the road recovery vehicle must not carry or tow the disabled vehicle or vehicle-combination any further than is reasonably necessary in order to clear any road obstructed by it and to facilitate the use of roads by other persons.

8.—(1) At any time when a disabled vehicle or vehicle-combination is being towed by a road recovery vehicle, the braking system of the disabled vehicle or vehicle-combination must not be operated by any device other than an approved brake connection point that is fitted to both the road recovery vehicle and the disabled vehicle or vehicle-combination.

(2) In sub-paragraph (1), “approved brake connection point”, in relation to a road recovery vehicle, means a device which is—

(a) approved by the manufacturer of the vehicle;

(b) fitted to the vehicle in the course of its construction or adaptation; and

(c) specially designed for use in the course of recovering disabled vehicles or vehicle-combinations in order to provide a means by which the braking system of the disabled vehicle or vehicle-combination can be safely and effectively controlled from the road recovery vehicle.

9.  A road recovery vehicle must not tow a disabled vehicle or vehicle-combination if the weight of the road recovery vehicle, together with the weight of the vehicle or vehicles being towed, would exceed the maximum train weight shown on the plate required to be fitted to the road recovery vehicle by regulation 66 of the Construction and Use Regulations (plates for goods vehicles and buses).