the driver's handbook

80
R O A d R U L E S
Further information on loading and towing is
contained in the Load Restraint Guide and the
Towing and Trailer Information Bulletin, which are
available from Customer Service Centres.
Towing and Loads
Loads
The maximum mass (or weight) of any motor vehicle fully loaded,
which includes passengers, must not exceed the vehicle’s Gross
Vehicle Mass (GVM) specified by the manufacturer.
You can check your vehicle’s GVM by looking in the vehicle handbook
or asking the manufacturer’s representative. The information in this
section applies only to motor vehicles with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes or
less. Also, when the section talks about towing a trailer, the same rules
apply when towing a caravan or even another motor vehicle.
Restrictions on loads
You must not drive with a load on a vehicle or trailer that is not properly
secured, causes the vehicle or trailer to be unstable, or projects in a
way that could be dangerous or cause an obstruction.
Loads on vehicles, including trailers, must not project more than
1.2 metres over the front of the vehicle or 150 mm either side.
Loads that overhang to the rear and cannot be seen easily must have
a bright and visible piece of cloth attached by day and a red light by
night. There are specific restrictions to rear projection limits.
The Driver’s Handbook
Fallen loads
You must not deposit or stack anything on a road
(or road-related area) without approval. If any article or material,
including fuel, falls from your vehicle on to a road, or you place
any article or material on a road that could damage the road or
cause danger to other road users, you must remove it, or take
action to have it removed, as soon as you can do so safely. It is
an offence to fail to do so.
Towing
If you wish to tow a trailer, caravan or another motor vehicle,
you must first find out if you are allowed to tow with your
vehicle by checking in your vehicle handbook or contacting the
manufacturer.
If the handbook or manufacturer recommend against towing, you
must not use the vehicle to tow, even if a tow bar has been fitted.
Towing capacity
If your vehicle can be used for towing, there are restrictions
imposed by the towing capacity of your vehicle and towbar. The
trailer’s loaded mass must not exceed the towing capacity of your
vehicle or the capacity of the towbar (whichever is the lowest).
You should also comply with any conditions imposed by the
vehicle manufacturer. You can find the towing capacity by looking
in the vehicle handbook or contacting the manufacturer.
The towbar should be marked with its towing capacity.
Some older towbars may not be marked so you should seek
advice from the manufacturer or a suitably qualified person to
determine the towbar’s capacity.