Driving a heavy vehicle towing a trailer(s) requires special knowledge and skills.
Driver licences and how to get them
Follow the safe towing guidelines on these sections whenever you tow a trailer or another vehicle.
Note: the term ‘trailer’ includes caravans, boat and horse trailers, and heavy trailers.
Heavy combination vehicle definitions and specifications
Heavy combination vehicle types
Stability
- You must know how to couple and uncouple the trailer.
- You must know how to position the towing vehicle when turning so the trailer wheels don’t encroach onto the kerb or over the centre line (swept path).
- You must know how to load the trailer so it is stable when cornering.
Safe towing guidelines
- You must be able to see behind the towed trailer or vehicle. If you can’t see behind with your rear-view mirrors, you may need to fit a special mirror.
- There must be no more than 4 metres between your vehicle and the trailer or vehicle it is towing.
- At night, the back of the trailer/towed vehicle must show a red light.
- If you’re towing a disabled vehicle at night, its headlights must light up the towing connection.
- Remember, you may be slower than other traffic when towing. Check behind often to see if other vehicles are held up behind you.
- If the road is winding or narrow and vehicles can’t pass you, stop at a safe place and let them pass.
- Leave more space than usual between your vehicle and the vehicle in front, so that others can pass you.
- Remember that the added weight behind you means you will need more space to stop.
- The towing connection and safety chain or cable that holds the trailer/vehicle must be safe and strong.
- If you are towing another vehicle without a rigid towing system, eg with a rope or a strop, the maximum allowable speed is 50km/h.
- If you are towing another vehicle with a rigid towing connection, the maximum is 90km/h.
