Q&A: towing without side mirrors

• Wednesday, 11 June 2008
• Jon Phillips, Managing Director of the Organisation of Horsebox and Trailer Owners
• 0 Comments

Q: Is it illegal to tow a horsebox without extended side mirrors?

A: The requirements
for towing mirrors follow the vehicle mirror requirements as defined in
Regulation 33 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1 986.
Regulation 33 requires that the mirrors comply with either the EC Directives
(71/127/EEC or 2003/97/EC) or UNECE Regulation 46.

Basically,
towing mirrors are a legal requirement if your trailer is wider than your car. The
law states that when towing a trailer, you must have adequate view of what is
behind your car and along both sides of your trailer.

When you are towing, your
trailer makes it impossible to use your car's rear view mirror, therefore you
will need some towing mirrors. Mirrors for towing must not project more than
200mm beyond the widest part of your car or trailer. Although for any cars sold
after 26th January 2007 this is now 250mm.